Individual Air Plant. Iona Tillandsia

Ranges in size from 1-3"
Air plant may come to you green if we do not have any red/pink in stock. Air plant will turn red and bloom a purple flower.


Tillandsia Ionantha aka Iona
Native to Cosa Rica Mexico

Ionas are a smaller variety of air plants they range when mature from 2-3"
Iona's only flower once in their entire life cycle and change to a vibrant red towards maturity. This color change is only temporary and happens only once. Which is why we try to send them out green so the new owner can enjoy the color change and bloom.

Iona's start out green as juveniles

As mentioned each Iona will only flower once. However once the flower has dried remove by gently plucking the petals and removing the stalk as this promotes babies (aka "pups")

Iona's are a clumping Variety of air plant and if you prefer not to remove the pups they will form massive clumps over time. As leaves dry gently pull them away from the with sideways tugs. If the leaf resists it is not ready to be removed yet. The mother will eventually dry up and you can remove her from the pups. The gap that is left will be filled in eventually by pups.

If you prefer to remove the pups wait until they are 1/3-1/2 the size of the mother plant to ensure their longevity. Hold both mother and pup at their base and gently twist in a downward motion. If the pup is hard to remove you may want to remove the pup by cutting downward as close to the mother as possible. Most will only need a gentle twist and tug to remove. Do not discard the mother plant yet. As long as she is still alive she will continue to produce more pups. The mother will often take several years after blooming before she finally dies.

Quick care tips. Make sure you water your plant regular. Yes these plants are easy care but they still need regular waterings. Water is the most important aspect of succeding with your Iona. However too much water and they will rot. Never leave air plants in standing water for long periods of time. Your plant needs water regularly at least 2 times per week. Misting is generally not sufficient even if done daily. They need to be watered underneath as well as on top. The easiets way to achieve this is to actually immerse the whole plant in the sink, bucket or cup if possible. After submerging make sure to shake off excess water and let them dry out. Your little guy will also appreciate a good soaking for several hours every other week. If flower never submerge your plant for longer than a minute or the petals will dissolve. In extreme dry areas or homes with air conditioning your iona may need more water.
Thin leaf varieties may need spritzing more often on the leaves to help the tips from not drying out. If you miss a watering air plants are very forgiving and are a very hardy plant