Neoregelia Xantipa
A cutting of a breeding hybrid from the bromeliad subspecies of Neoregelia, native to the lower regions of the tropical rainforest of South America in the moist shade of the large trees.
Neoregelia 'Xantipa' is a striking hybrid with strong leaf markings and a compact growth form. The variety stands out due to its contrasting colors and vibrant patterns. The unusual name "Xantipa" may remind one of the historical figure, the wife of Socrates – a nod to the expressive, quirky character of this bromeliad.
Characteristics:
The plant forms a dense, flat-spreading rosette with strong, slightly serrated leaves. The base color is usually green to olive, overlaid with contrasting red or purple stripes and spots that can vary depending on light intensity. The leaf center intensively colors during blooming, while small purple flowers appear deep within the funnel. 'Xantipa' is vigorous and regularly produces offsets.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright to semi-shaded; some direct sunlight enhances the coloration.
Water: Regularly fill the funnel with low-calcium water; keep the substrate slightly moist but not soggy.
Humidity: Medium to high (50%+), good air circulation is important.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, apply 1-2 times per month with our special bromeliad or orchid fertilizer in diluted form directly into the rosette.
Temperature: 18-28 °C, consistently above 15 °C.
Note: Neoregelia 'Xantipa' is excellent for colorful arrangements or as a solitary plant. Its striking markings make it a focal point on windowsills or in display cases.
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.
