I don't know what triggers them to bloom. I have several pads in the ground, some have been there longer than others, but this is the first year I've had blooms and those are only on one pad.

If you are that concerned with the tilting and such though, and if it were me, I'd just cut off the pads one at a time, working my way down, until it was at a height I preferred, let the cuttings dry a bit and then plant them into the same pot.

I had some that I thought winter had killed completely, but I see them erupting from the rabbit-poo-covered chirt with brand new growth this late-spring. I'm curious to see if these will act like brand new plants or if they will pick up where the pads they grew from left off even though the original pads were dead-looking (I'm convinced they were dead anyway, but there was at least root development from them) before the rabbit droppings, straw, hay, etc. were mulched over them.

Opuntia are pretty hardy plants. This one was completely encased in ice for 3 days this winter...which, btw, I believe is the trigger for blooms. Not that it must freeze but I do think a good frost will help set blooms.
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Thanks for all the responses and the picture! Wasn't even sure what color the blooms would be until now! (I think I have bloom envy now. LOL Nah! I actually like it for its "cactusness", too.) I can guarantee mine won't make it in my ground, since my "ground" is purely concrete. LOL (Container gardener by necessity. LOL)

Is there a certain age or size the pads should be before removing for transplanting? I had to relocate it a month ago, since it's original pot was obviously cramping its style. I just don't want to shock it too often, or try to propagate babies, if babies need mommy still.

Cacti generally do not mind being cramped as far as I know of. Most varieties actually prefer to be on the cramped side. You do not have to move it and/or transplant it too often, unless it just becomes a monster plant.
You can remove a pad anytime in the warmer months and plant it in some soil. Water it infrequently until it roots. I think removing a pad that is about the width of 3-4 + inches should be OK.I received a few pads a few years ago from a neighbor's huge mature plant. They multiplied nicely and I know have a massive plant that has thrived wonderfully in the ground.

I understand your dilemma about having only the option of using pots.
I wish you could genuinely and personally see what Optunia can do when grounded!

Take care and good luck! ;o)

Deb

Here recently - while driving - I saw a Prickly Pear that was blooming PINK. I've been trying to remember where exactly I saw it since mine bloomed and mine was yellow... I'd love to pin down a pink one. :)

At any rate - the freezing theory - that might just be it, because we had a HARD freeze in my area around Easter and while I have seen plenty of Prickly Pear with "fruits" and new growth each year, this is the first year I actually recall seeing any of them "around here" blooming... so the freeze theory is very compelling for me if only for my area.

Actually, although I love the freeze theory, can't really agree with it. Living in Philly, we definitely freeze -- often -- every winter. (Maybe the Prickly Pears are the plants that put the "Hard" in "hardy!" LOL Don't worry, not planning on joining "Last Comic Standing.: ;) )

deb, my poor cactus was in a small flower pot. Given they seem to deflate during winter, once the new pads took off this spring (I don't go out back in winter at all), the pads got caught in the rim of the pot -- much like a hunchbacked cactus. After replanting, it doubled in size, within five days! The difference between seeing a bird walking and seeing one with its wings spread out! I was shocked, and, strangely, proud of it for its boldness to just take off. (I tend to get attached to my plants -- can you tell? LOL)

As for seeing them in all their glory. The picture above seems impressive, especially since we just watched the old western, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance." Part of the storyline includes John Wayne trying to woo a young woman, who had her own Texan garden, full of cactii, but mostly "The Yellow Rose of Texas", Prickly Pear. He made a room for her, before asking her to marry him, and right outside the room was a garden of the plants. Several decades later, she went back to look at it. The cactii were all grown up, (and they were bigger then mine to start with.) I'm going to need a much bigger container, in a year or two, but am kinda hoping the Hens and Chicks and Donkey Tails all help to crowd out the newest container before that. (Good movie, even if westerns aren't high on your list of "favorite movies.")

Hermit,
Next time you see it, ask the owner if you can take a pad. I bet a grouping of pink and yellow Prickly Pear would look wonderful!

Thanks again, for additional info.

I would love to get some of the pink as well. There is a guy in the other cacti forum that had some. It is the same kind I have had my eye on for quite sosme time,..... I requested a pad or two,..... but so far no response! ;o(
We (as well as a good portion of the US) had that terrible cold snap (deep freeze) right before spring started to finally warm up this year. I am not sure if I can attribute that to the success in blooming this year, (over 60 blooms), or if my Optunia is FINALLY established in that respect. It took at least 3 years for it to get to this point. I think some perrenials just take longer than others to firmly establish themselves.

Deb

I have too much prickly pear cactus here in the Texas hill country. I think they need full, full sun to bloom. The ones in the littlest bit of shade here don't bloom.
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