How hard is it for a "meatball" to bloom? It took three years just to produce one flower, and by the time it finally bloomed, the wait felt endless.

Most people grow flowers that are pretty and beautiful, but the editor thinks that a good-looking exterior is too uniform, and it is an interesting soul that stands out from the crowd, so I brought home a "meatball." This guy, just like Nezha, took 3 years of brewing just to bloom one flower.

This flower is called the Fire Crown cactus (Echinopsis cactus), a plant in the Cactaceae family and also a member of the succulent family. Before it blooms, it looks much like a cactus ball, also a little "hedgehog." Come and see the process of the editor waiting for it to bloom.

Waiting for it to bloom is like waiting for payday. The picture above shows it about ten days before flowering. The editor carefully tended to it, afraid that something might go wrong. Watering cannot be rushed; you have to wait until the potting soil is completely dry before watering, and you must not splash water on the flower buds. Watering is like being a fussy old nanny, always fretting over everything. During the bud stage, you also cannot apply fertilizer, otherwise you will regret it when it fails to bloom.

Sun exposure is a must, but this is the South, and from April to May the climate is fairly suitable, so it can be in full sun all day. However, rain is no fun, and it cannot be allowed to get rained on, otherwise it will not bloom for you, so you also have to keep an eye on the weather forecast at all times.

As time slowly drew near, the red became more and more obvious, and the small buds slowly opened, with anticipation and excitement growing stronger day by day.

A few days later, the flower was still partly hidden, shyly half-closed and not yet in full glory. After another day, once it had gotten used to the environment, it opened up completely. If you do not believe it, take a look:

Very beautiful, right? After growing this "meatball" for so long, it finally bloomed in full glory, red and fiery. It is just a pity that the flowering period is so short, and it withers after only a few days. But it does not matter; beautiful things are always brief, and what is most worth savoring is the process.

I believe flower-loving friends feel the same way I do: looking forward to its arrival with great joy, and lamenting its fading with a sense of loss. The moment it blooms is endlessly memorable. Everyone is welcome to share their own process of waiting for flowers to bloom.