Honest review: Tillandsia Ionantha is rewarding but scale insects or mealybug in the leaf bases is real

Tillandsia Ionantha is a genuinely satisfying plant to grow, but I want to be upfront about one thing: scale insects or mealybug in the leaf bases. I've dealt with it twice now and it takes consistent attention to manage.

Beyond that, flowers only once in a lifetime but produces offsetting pups after makes it one of my favourites in the collection. I keep it in attached to a seashell or stone for a natural arrangement which suits it well. Learning about misting more frequently in hot dry indoor conditions has been essential. pup production after flowering creating a new clump is worth waiting for — the plant really justifies itself then. Four stars because of that persistent issue.