Tillandsia capillaris var. Holgerii Pulk
Epiphytic dry Tillandsia from South America. It does not require soil, thrives well in bright locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia capillaris is a finely branched, particularly small-growing species from the southern Andes regions of South America, especially from Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile.
This form, grown from our own seeds, has been unofficially named after the long-time head of our Tillandsia department, Holger Hanselmann.
The species name "capillaris" means "hair-like" – a fitting description for the delicate, almost moss-like shoots of this extraordinary air plant. It is excellent for mini arrangements, moss landscapes, or as a decorative accent in terrariums.
Characteristics:
Tillandsia capillaris forms strongly branched, hair-fine shoots with tiny, gray-green leaves that cling closely to the stems. Its numerous trichomes give it a silvery appearance and protect it from dryness. The delicate yellow flowers are small but numerous and usually appear in spring with good care. The plant grows creeping or hanging and gradually forms decorative cushions.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright, no direct midday sun – also ideal for lightly shaded areas
Water: Spray well 2–4 times per week or briefly submerge, then allow to dry completely
Humidity: Medium to high – good air circulation is important
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, fertilize 1–2 times a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form
Temperature: Optimal at 16–24 °C, can tolerate cooler temperatures for a short time
Note: Tillandsia capillaris is ideal for detailed, natural designs – for example, on pieces of bark, in glass containers, or to recreate misty forest-like scenes.
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.