Tillandsia butzii Pulk on cork
Epiphytic tropical Tillandsia from South America. It does not require soil, thrives well in semi-shaded locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia butzii is an unusually shaped species from the humid mountain regions of Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. It was described by Carl Mez in 1931.
The species name "butzii" likely honors a plant collector or sponsor, although little documentation exists regarding their exact identity.
Characteristics:
Tillandsia butzii has a bulbous, thickened base with long, thin, greenish-brown spotted leaves that twist elegantly. The plant appears almost tentacle-like and is a true eye-catcher. During the flowering period, it develops a slightly curved, reddish flower spike with violet tubular flowers.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright to partially shaded, prefers filtered light or morning/evening sun.
Water: Spray or soak vigorously 2–4 times per week; then allow to dry completely—especially at the base.
Humidity: High (60–80%), constant air circulation is essential.
Fertilizer: We recommend using our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form 1–2 times per month in spring and summer.
Temperature: 18–30 °C, sensitive to cold—not recommended below 12 °C.
Note: Ideal for tropical terrariums, airy mounted arrangements, or decorative individual displays. Pay special attention to good drying due to the sensitive base. A character plant for lovers of quirky growth forms.
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.
