Tillandsia Rainforest Red
epiphytic hybrid of a tropical Tillandsia from South America. It does not require soil, thrives well in bright locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia 'Rainforest Red' is an attractive hybrid or cultivar, whose exact origin is not clearly documented – it is often marketed as a variety derived from rainforest-type Tillandsias with intensely colored flower spikes.
The name "Rainforest Red" refers to the bright red bracts and the preferred humid, warm habitat.
Characteristics:
This Tillandsia forms compact, funnel-shaped rosettes with strong green to slightly silver-tinted leaves. Particularly striking is the bright red flower spike, from which usually violet tubular flowers emerge. The strong coloration and bushy growth make Rainforest Red a decorative eye-catcher – both individually and in arrangements.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright to semi-shady, no direct midday sun.
Water: Thoroughly mist 2–3 times per week or soak once a week. Avoid water accumulation in the rosette.
Humidity: Medium to high (from 50%), good air circulation 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, do not keep below 10 °C.
Note: Tillandsia 'Rainforest Red' is particularly well-suited for semi-shady, humid areas – such as in display cases, on moss bases, or in tropically designed terrariums. Its vibrant colors are especially beautiful in high humidity.
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.
