Cephalium producing plants vary in age according to eventual mature size. The smaller growing species such as M. matanzanus and violaceus , produce cephaliums for me in 3-4 years from seed. The larger growing species often take several years to produce cephaliums. Coincidental with cephalium production is the advent of flowering. Flowers are small, diurnal, usually pink, purple, or red in color and are borne in great abundance throughout the late spring, summer and early autumn.
Flowers usually open in late afternoon.
Link to go to the Brazilian Cacti in Cultivation Home Page .