As to blooming the Ric Rac cactus, a couple of my friends have them hanging outdoors and they bloom regularly in Feb. to March here.
I wonder if maybe it needs a little chillin in the winter? Maybe you're being too nice to it? They are tender, but even zone 11 can get down into the 40's.
The gal I got mine from is up in central FL north of Orlando so she's 9b at best. She keeps hers outside on a covered porch, I believe.
