Neoregelia iphigenie
Neoregelia ‘Iphigenie’ is a striking hybrid from the genus Neoregelia within the bromeliad family (Bromeliaceae). Like many cultivated varieties, it originates from breeding programs whose parent species are native to the tropical rainforests of South America – particularly Brazil. The name ‘Iphigenie’ refers to the mythological figure Iphigenia and is meant to emphasize the elegant, noble appearance of this variety.
Characteristics:
Neoregelia ‘Iphigenie’ forms a compact, beautifully proportioned rosette of broad, slightly glossy leaves. The coloration ranges from rich green to reddish or pink accents, often complemented by fine speckles or delicate patterns. During the flowering period, the center of the rosette becomes more intensely colored – usually in shades of pink, red, or purple – and small violet-blue flowers appear inside. After flowering, the mother plant gradually dies but produces several offsets.
Care Instructions:
Light: very bright location, preferably with some direct morning or evening sun; good lighting enhances color markings and intensity
Water: always keep some water in the center of the rosette and renew regularly; substrate should be only slightly moist, never waterlogged
Humidity: prefers high humidity; ideal in terrariums or near other tropical plants
Fertilizer: in spring and summer, fertilize 1-2 times per month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form
Temperature: ideally 18-28 °C, not below 15 °C in winter
Note: A bright environment is crucial for the full color development of Neoregelia ‘Iphigenie’. Offsets should only be separated once 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.