Neoregelia Mephisto
A clone of a breeding hybrid from the bromeliad subspecies of Neoregalia, native to the lower regions of the tropical rainforest of South America in the humid shade of the large trees.
Neoregelia 'Mephisto' is an impressive hybrid that stands out due to its dramatic coloration and contrasting patterns.
The name "Mephisto" likely refers to the devilish color contrast – a nod to Mephistopheles from Goethe's "Faust". This variety is particularly sought after by enthusiasts of striking leaf colors and is ideal as a focal point in an indoor jungle.
Characteristics:
This Neoregelia forms a broad, funnel-shaped rosette with stiff, slightly serrated leaves. The foliage displays a dark base color – usually deep red or purple – with striking black or dark violet speckles and stripes. During the flowering period, the center additionally turns an intense red. The small, lavender-colored flowers appear within the rosette.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright to partially shaded, prefers filtered light – intense light enhances the dark coloration.
Water: Regularly fill the rosette with fresh water; keep the substrate slightly moist and well-draining.
Humidity: Medium to high (above 50%), occasionally mist to maintain leaf quality.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1–2 times per month with our special bromeliad or orchid fertilizer in diluted form directly into the rosette.
Temperature: 18–28 °C, not below 12 °C for extended periods.
Note: Neoregelia 'Mephisto' is particularly well-suited as a decorative solitary plant in modern or exotic arrangements. Its extraordinary coloration remains attractive even without flowers, making it a true highlight in any collection.
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.
