Good plant, mediocre results — what went wrong with my Tillandsia Brachycaulos

Tillandsia Brachycaulos is clearly a great plant — I can see that from other people's results. Mine has been decent but not spectacular, and I think I know why.

I underestimated the importance of misting more frequently in hot dry indoor conditions in the early stages and paid for it. bleaching and burning from direct summer sun also knocked the plant back at a critical point. It lives in a decorative driftwood or cork bark mount which is probably not quite right but it's the best I can do in my space. flowers only once in a lifetime but produces offsetting pups after is visible but muted. flowering triggered by lengthening days in spring or summer gave me hope — there are glimpses of what it could be. Three stars for now with potential for four.