Tillandsia caulescens
Epiphytic tropical Tillandsia from South America. It requires no soil, thrives well in semi-shaded locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia caulescens is a rarer, stem-forming species from the mountain forests of Bolivia and Peru. It was described by John Gilbert Baker in 1889.
The name "caulescens" is derived from the Latin "caulis" (= stem, shoot) and refers to the characteristic length growth along a visible stem.
Characteristics:
This Tillandsia grows along an elongated stem (caulescent) and forms dense rows of narrow, silvery-gray leaves. It can reach several decimeters in length. The upright inflorescence bears bright pink to red bracts and purple tubular flowers. The plant grows relatively slowly but reliably produces side shoots.
Care instructions:
Light: Very bright to partially shaded, no direct midday sun – well suited for east or west-facing windows.
Water: Thoroughly mist 2-3 times a week or occasionally soak. Always allow to dry well after watering.
Humidity: Medium to high (50-70%), good air movement is required.
Fertilizer: We recommend using our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form 1-2 times per month during spring and summer.
Temperature: 16-28 °C, no temperatures below 10 °C – keep rather warm and protected.
Note: Due to stem growth, it is ideal for hanging arrangements or elongated containers. A special species for collectors of structurally rich growth forms.
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.
