Tillandsia setiformis pulk on cork
epiphytic cluster of a tropical Tillandsia hybrid from South America. It requires no soil, thrives well in bright locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia setiformis is a finely branched species from the mountainous regions of Bolivia, Peru, and northern Argentina. It was described by John Gilbert Baker in 1896.
The name "setiformis" means "bristle-like" and aptly describes the thin, hair-like leaves of this delicate Tillandsia.
Characteristics:
This species forms dense, spherical rosettes of very narrow, silvery-gray leaves with fine trichome coverage. The inflorescence is usually unbranched and carries bright purple tubular flowers, accompanied by delicately colored bracts in pink to purple. The plant appears particularly light and floating due to its fibrous structure, making it an attractive element for hanging arrangements.
Care instructions:
Light: Very bright to sunny, also with direct sunlight at sufficient humidity.
Water: Mist 2-3 times a week or occasionally soak. Then allow to dry well.
Humidity: Medium to high (from 50%), airy location recommended.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1-2 times per month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form.
Temperature: 16-28 °C, temporarily frost-free down to about 5 °C.
Note: Tillandsia setiformis is excellent for nets, branches, or small pieces of cork. Its hair-like structure provides an interesting contrast when combined with broad-leaved species and adds a special lightness to 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.
