Tillandsia lepidosepala
Tillandsia lepidosepala originates from Mexico and is a small to medium-sized species from drier regions.
Its name means "with scaly bracts" (lepidosepala = scaly sepals) and refers to the distinctive flower structure. It was first described in 1941 by L.B. Smith.
Characteristics:
Tillandsia lepidosepala forms dense rosettes with narrow, stiffly upright leaves that appear strongly silvery-gray and are densely scaled. The simple, upright inflorescence displays vibrant pink bracts and rich violet tubular flowers. The species remains relatively compact and regularly pups after flowering.
Care Instructions:
Light: Very bright to full sun – an ideal spot has plenty of direct sunlight and air movement.
Water: Spray twice a week or occasionally dip briefly. Afterwards, allow to dry well.
Humidity: Moderate (40–60%) – drought tolerant, but good ventilation is important.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1–2 times per month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form.
Temperature: 18–30 °C, robust – temporarily tolerates temperatures as low as about 5 °C without frost damage.
Note: Ideal for bright windowsills or dry display cases. Its striking flower color and silvery appearance make it an attractive choice for structure-focused arrangements.
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.
