Tillandsia recurvifolia var. subsecundifolia
epiphytic dry Tillandsia from South America. It does not require soil, thrives in bright locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
The Tillandsia recurvifolia var. subsecundifolia is an attractive variety from Brazil that grows in rocky locations as well as on trees. It was originally described as a separate species but was later classified as a variety of Tillandsia recurvifolia.
The name addition "subsecundifolia" refers to the slightly one-sided arrangement of the leaves.
Characteristics:
Tillandsia recurvifolia var. subsecundifolia forms compact rosettes with silvery-gray, narrow, distinctly scaly leaves that are slightly sickle-shaped and partially oriented to one side. During flowering, the center of the plant turns a vibrant pink to red. The violet tubular flowers create a strong contrast and usually appear in spring or early summer.
Care instructions:
Light: Very bright to sunny – full sun is also possible with adequate humidity.
Water: Spray or soak 2-3 times a week. Allow to dry completely afterward.
Humidity: Medium to high (50%+) – good ventilation is necessary.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, once or twice a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form.
Temperature: 16-30 °C – robust and easy to care for, keep frost-free.
Note: This variety is particularly popular due to its intense coloration during the flowering period. Ideal for sunny windowsills or well-ventilated arrangements indoors.
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.
