http://plantoddities.com/cgi-bin/p/awtp-product.cgi?d=plant-oddities&item=2194 at Plant Oddities may help you expand a search for more information. Picture of the Kolbil does look rather thin. I did find scaposa elsewhere and it looks like a larger-than-average ionantha ("average" being Mexican or Guatemala size ionantha plants). If you let us know how you are treating it, you may be doing okay and simply need to be patient, or we may be able to give you suggestions on something to do in a different way

it's just really closed up. I soaked them for about 30 minutes in deionized water when they first came (what I've always done for mail ordered plants). Then I've been spritzing them each day. I live in Montana so semi arid and getting dry since it's winter. They're on the counter now so indirect bright light. Are they maybe just young plants? How long does it take removed pups to open?

It does look like a young plant, but without a reference (for example, a ruler placed next to it), it's difficult to be sure. It does look okay though. My conditions in Albuquerque sound like yours (I'd say I'm in "New Mexico", but we have a lot of different climate zones). We do expect a day of rain tomorrow, but it is dry otherwise, and we're at a high elevation. I find myself watering less than I did when I first started getting Tillandsias about 5 years ago, but the plants don't seem to mind (I do water Spanish Moss more often). I mostly water via spritzing, and soak some for a while about every week. Remember, we're human and we tend to overfeed or overwater our babies (be it fish or plants) until we realize what they are comfortable with :)

Oh, you asked about when removed plants might bloom. No doubt it depends on when they reach a mature size and realize it's time to bloom. In some plants this can take a few years (Ionanthas bloom quickly, it seems), and other plants (um, xerographica) it can take years. They may then, at the same time or a little later, start pupping. You might even get seed and have to research the best way to get those growing. Paul Isley in his YouTube videos (thanks to Barry Landau) has mentioned that their seed grown plants can take years and years to reach maturity; however, a slow-growing plant can look quite nice. Again, depends on the plant.

They're all around 2 inches. I'm not terribly concerned about blooming. I've had a couple over the years but I honestly just loves these plants for their small spiky appearance, low maintenance and the terrarium options. I just wanted to know how long the leaves take to fan out some. It does appear that some of them are opening a little now so I'll remain hopeful.

Thank you for your help! This forum is awesome!