I was given a few pads from a friend which I rooted. They were doing great until one of them went astray... It's growing a long, thin appendage, which at this point could never be a pad. Why is it doing this? Are we doing something wrong? Too much water perhaps? Should we clip this thing and let the parent pad start over? I fear it is putting too much energy into this "thing!" Lisa
Not enough light - long slender pads like this on Opuntia is a sign of etiolation. Move it to a position with full sun.
I would cut if off. Apart from being ugly, etioliated shoots are weak and bend easily. In stronger light, the tips will turn thicker and heavier while the rest will remain thin, why they will look and grow even worse.
