Tillandsia tectorum var. snow
Tillandsia tectorum is a striking, heavily silver-haired species from the dry highlands of Peru and Ecuador. It was described by Édouard Morren in 1877. The name "tectorum" is derived from the Latin "tectum" (meaning roof), as it often grows on roofs in its native habitat.
Tillandsia tectorum var. 'Snow' is a particularly hairy variety of the well-known Tillandsia tectorum. It also originates from the dry highlands of the Andes, mainly from Peru. The name "Snow" refers to the extremely dense, white trichome covering that gives this plant a snow-like appearance.
Features:
This variety forms loose rosettes with very broad, extremely silvery-white leaves that are even more densely covered with trichomes than the standard form. As a result, the plant appears almost as if covered with fine snow. The simple inflorescence bears delicate violet tubular flowers with reddish to pink bracts. It grows extremely slowly but is of extraordinary ornamental value.
Care instructions:
Light: Very bright to full sun – prefers direct sunlight.
Water: Lightly mist once a week, less frequently if needed. No soaking. Always allow to dry out well.
Humidity: Low to medium, excellent adaptation to dry air. Very good ventilation is crucial.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1–2 times a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in a highly diluted form.
Temperature: 16–30 °C, briefly frost-free down to about 5 °C.
Note: Tillandsia tectorum var. 'Snow' is a highlight for collections and airy, dry presentations. It is perfect for sunny windowsills or hanging displays and requires minimal care – ideal for enthusiasts of rare and particularly decorative species.
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.
