Tillandsia tricholepis Pulk
Epiphytic tropical Tillandsia from South America. It does not require soil, thrives well in semi-shaded locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia tricholepis is a tiny, epiphytic species from South America, particularly from Paraguay, Bolivia, Brazil, and northern Argentina. It was described in 1830 by Christian Nees von Esenbeck.
The name "tricholepis" means "hairy scale" and refers to the fine scale hairs (trichomes) and the small leaves of the plant.
Characteristics:
This miniature Tillandsia forms dense, hanging mats or clusters of slender, branched stems with tiny, scale-covered leaves. It grows creeping or hanging and, with good care, produces a variety of small, yellow flowers that emerge directly from the leaf axils. Its delicate appearance makes it a special rarity among Tillandsias.
Care instructions:
Light: Bright to partially shaded, no direct sunlight during midday heat.
Water: Lightly mist 2–3 times a week. More frequently if necessary, as the plant can store little water.
Humidity: Medium to high (from 50 %), good air circulation is necessary.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1–2 times a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form.
Temperature: 16–28 °C, not frost-resistant.
Note: Tillandsia tricholepis is particularly suitable for fine branched twigs, small pieces of cork, or as a delicate hanging plant. Due to its fine growth, it is a beautiful accent in airy arrangements and should be protected from drying out.
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.
