Neoregelia Iris
Neoregelia 'Iris' is a vibrant hybrid from the genus Neoregelia within the family of bromeliads (Bromeliaceae). It was developed through targeted breeding of tropical species and likely owes its name to its elegant, iridescent coloration reminiscent of the flowers of the iris (Iris). The parent species originally come from the warm, humid regions of South America, primarily Brazil.
Characteristics:
Neoregelia 'Iris' forms a compact, symmetrical rosette of strong, glossy leaves. The leaf coloration varies depending on light intensity, ranging from rich green to reddish-purple tones, often with decorative spots or edges. During flowering, the center of the rosette turns a deep purple to pink, while small, delicate violet flowers appear inside. After flowering, the mother plant gradually dies off and produces several offsets that can be used for further cultivation.
Care Instructions:
Light: bright location, preferably with some direct morning or evening sun; intense lighting promotes strong red coloration.
Water: keep the center of the rosette filled with a little water and renew it regularly; substrate should be slightly moist but well-drained.
Humidity: prefers high humidity, ideal for terrariums or humid-warm indoor spaces.
Fertilizer: in spring and summer, fertilize 1-2 times a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form.
Temperature: optimal between 18-28 °C, not below 15 °C in winter.
Note: Intense lighting is crucial for the development of the typical coloration of Neoregelia 'Iris'. Only separate the offsets when they have reached about one third of the size of the mother plant.
Our greenhouses are equipped with modern energy screens and double glazing to efficiently save on heating costs. Additionally, we collect rainwater over the entire roof area of 9,000 square meters and use only this water to irrigate all our crops. We collect the rainwater in underground tanks with a total volume of 600,000 liters.
Since 2007, we have been heating our entire operation with a fully automated 850 kW wood chip heating system and a 100,000-liter buffer storage tank. Environmentally friendly and CO2-neutral. Only to support during very cold winter days and nights is a conventional oil heating system available.
Since 2014, the heating has been supported by a solar thermal system with an annual yield of about 20 megawatt-hours.
In 2020, we installed a photovoltaic system with 30 kW peak and have been producing more green electricity per year than our entire operation requires.
Since 2021, we use exclusively pots for our self-produced plants that are not only 100% recyclable but are also entirely made from recycled pots. To this end, we collect all used pots that arise in our operation and have them picked up in big bags by our pot supplier Göttinger. There, the pots are cleaned and processed in a water-free recycling facility into new pots that come back to us.