As per all the sage advice above, you have your plant living in the dark. The advice of "Bright, indirect light" is not for all parts of the country. It's a general suggestion for all points south and west, not for light starved states like New Jersey and Ohio. Here they need all the light they can get and can almost go right up against the cold glass in order to get it. Yes, the sun is low, but it's very weak, at it's weakest of the year, in fact. Very gradually, from December 21, which was the shortest day of the year and the absolute depths of winter for orchids, the days will be slightly brighter each day. In April is when you worry that the light may be getting too strong and you can pull the plant back a few inches. Notice the word "inches" and not feet.

Blut, your pads are rooting outside? I've never tried rooting Opuntia outdoors, but started a few in pots.. The first 6 months, two pads didn't do anything, but looked fine..no rot and firm. I added Superthrive and a few weeks later a baby pad started growing from one of the pads..I thought the baby-less pad was dead, but a wk or so later, it too put out a baby. The only thing I'd have done different is, even though the opuntia is hardy, living in z6, I'd have rooted in the house..After roots formed, possibly the second year, weather permitting, planted in the garden. Good luck..as long as the pads look healthy, and feel firm, they're alive..Toni

Thank you Lavender... Just loved your idea about the continue countertop in the DOL. I think it could make the oven cabinet look a little more hutch like. I think I could be far more creative with the cabinetry layout but I worked too much on this the last couple of days. need a break. i did work on the fridge elevation as well. I am going to post. would love your opinion and anyone else's if people aren't completely sick of my project! Two are with a window and two are without. Two are with the X cabinets, two are with regular cabinets. Either way I see the cabinet above the sink being shallower in depth than the others. Thanks for looking.

Jon, I edited my name and typed the in zone right after it, like it was my last name or my title. Wish I could help you with IDs. Nice plants! Edit - here's what I was talking about. You cannot edit your user name, but you can edit what is publicly displayed.