I'm about to cut the cuttings again (new cuttings and have some other better one on the way). I'm going to be using Al's gritty mix (assuming that's the best for this?), so should I let the turface in the bin that appears wet, sit out to dry? Also, what size pots are you folks using for these gigantic cuttings? I have some 6.7" shallow azalea pots and thought that might be a good fit for the depth and stability as well. Any thought are greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the input you always give, it's highly appreciated!!!

Sarah Please do not get upset if we tell you that it doesn't look it's best. While you have this plant for 10 years, grew it from seed and it is still alive, obviously you did something right but we do not think it has been growing under ideal growing conditions. In 10 years, it should have grown much more, especially for opuntia - they are usually fast growers. There are miniature opuntias in existence, but yours is not, miniatures grow only few inches tall, they are just about ground covers. Healthy plant should support itself, without sticks and/or being tied. There are some marks visible on the plants - could be just natural corking, but it is difficult to judge from the photos. Could you take photo in better light and perhaps close up? Many opuntias grow paddle-like leaves. There are others that have cylindrical growth - but I am not sure yours is that type (maybe?). Here is Austrocylindropuntia subulata:You can see totally different shape, also different spines. The top part of the shorter plant on right is more round, that makes me think it wants to be paddle-shaped plant. It would need more light to grow more compact and wider segments. It is difficult to supply enough light indoors, many of us have the same problem. Plants grow stretched - etiolated - looking for more light. Changing soil yearly is not needed (the plant above has been in same mix for over 2years now and I am not planning on changing it). Succulents like to be in gravely mix (closer to what they grow in in their natural habitat), that offers excellent drainage and air exchange. You asked for ID - sometimes the plant has shape that is more difficult to ID. BTW, there are almost 500 species... So, the comments are not attack on you, just tips-remarks on the plant as we see it. We are all plant lovers here, and ask questions all the time. There is something in every post, even just 1 thing, that could help.

Several decades ago, I hybridized Poncirus trifoliata and Clementine mandarin using Poncirus as the pollen parent as Clementine is 100 % monoembryonic when used as the seed parent. The only difficulty was the timing of flowering of the 2 parents. Some of the flowers on the progeny were misshapen and not capable of setting fruit. A few of the hybrids were vigorous and fruited in a solar greenhouse without supplemental heat in southeastern Pennsylvania. These trees were planted directly in the soil with the perimeter of the greenhouse base insulated 4' deep using panels of Styrofoam insulation. One of the trees fruited with Clementine-like fruit, deep orange, seedless, not bitter, but tart, about 2 inches in diameter. Regrettably, I discontinued covering the greenhouse and lost the trees to winter cold. I had previously sent 2 scions to an amateur citrus breeder in Tifton, GA. He was an elderly gentleman at that time and they may not have been further propagated. These trees began flowering and fruiting at 5-6 years of age. I did not fertilize these plants and did no pruning as flowering began on the most distal branches, especially on the longer upper branches beginning to bend downwards.

Jenny, I know what those are!!! I have one..lol Seems you and I like the same plants! How about a Colanthra? Winter sweet? and one other@?!!!! Oh, boy, you need one of those! lolIf you like fragrant, these will blow your mind away. I have all. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimonanthus https://www.google.com/search?source=hp&ei=7DBzW8CMGNGSzwLW16-4Dw&q=winter+sweet&oq=winter+sweet&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l4j0i10k1j0l2j0i10k1j0l2.2283.4531.0.5385.12.12.0.0.0.0.144.960.11j1.12.0....0...1.1.64.psy-ab..0.12.947...0i131k1.0.May9nQMcTDw https://nurcar.com/collections/woodies-all/products/calycanthus-venus-pp15925 https://nurcar.com/collections/woodies-all/products/edgeworthia-chrysantha-winter-gold https://nurcar.com/collections/woodies-all/products/edgeworthia-chrysantha-winter-gold Vladimir, excellent work!