Tillandsia (translated into German: Tillandsien) belong to the family of bromeliads (botanically Bromeliaceae), of which they form the largest subgroup with over 600 known species today. In the wild, the genus is native to the so-called Neotropics, which refers to the region between northern South America and southern North America. Particularly in the English-speaking world, the term Airplants has become established, while in German, the terms Luftpflanzen or Luftnelken are less common. The name arises from the fact that the roots of the Tillandsia serve only as a means of attachment and, unlike almost all other plant genera, do not absorb nutrients. With their adhesive roots, Tillandsia mainly sit epiphytically (from the Greek meaning: sitting on other plants) on trees or cacti in their native habitat, but also lithophytically (also from the Greek for: growing on rocks) on rocks, rubble, as well as walls, rooftops, fences, or even telephone lines. Few species grow terrestrially, meaning on the ground.
Nutrients and water are drawn from the air surrounding them by these small survival artists. With the help of small suction scales on their leaves - known as trichomes - they extract moisture from the air. Trichomes are short hairs formed on the outer skin of the leaves, known as the epidermis of the Tillandsia, and they die shortly after formation. The now dead cells of these scale hairs fill up with light, causing the plant to appear silver-gray to white, depending on the density of the scales. When these trichomes come into contact with humid air, such as through fog, the scale hairs absorb water. Once the scales are completely saturated with water, the green assimilation tissue beneath the suction scales becomes visible again, and the plant "greens up." This allows the plant to absorb more light. When the sun dries the plants, they turn white again. Thus, the suction scales not only serve to absorb water but also provide evaporation and sun protection. Through this special survival trick, plants can absorb droplets of fog and rainwater directly without roots, thus meeting their water needs. The necessary minerals are obtained from the small amounts contained in the dust carried by the wind, which dissolve in the absorbed water.
Tillandsias can be roughly divided into green and gray species. The grayer/whiter a Tillandsia appears when dry, the denser and larger its trichomes are. Gray Tillandsia species are mainly found in areas with low rainfall and dry conditions. They prefer a lot of sunlight and are therefore found in the upper layers of forests, on rocks, cacti, or (less frequently) on the ground. Usually, these species only require regular mist or fog at irregular intervals. These species are often referred to as desert or steppe Tillandsias and can often be found even in high and inhospitable Andean regions.
Green Tillandsia species, on the other hand, prefer a shadier and, above all, more humid climate, and are therefore mostly native to the lower regions of the unfortunately dwindling tropical rainforests within the Neotropics. Due to regular access to moist air, suction scales are hardly recognizable, but at least in the interior of the leaf rosettes, they are always present.
Some species of Tillandsia are called myrmecophytes in the wild, meaning they serve as hosts for specific ant colonies. These are usually species with a bulbous base, where the leaves are closely packed together to form a kind of bottle, known as a "pseudo-bulb." The individual chambers that are formed remain dry throughout the year. In these chambers, ants build their nests and, in return, fend off the herbivores that threaten the host plant. It is also suspected that an additional benefit for the Tillandsias is fertilization through ant droppings. Examples include Tillandsia caput-medusae, Tillandsia seleriana, Tillandsia streptophylla, and Tillandsia bulbosa. In our greenhouses, we have the largest collection of Tillandsias on the European continent, with over half a million adult plants and millions of seedlings in various stages. To keep this number of Tillandsias available in both quantity and the highest quality, we import approximately every two weeks from various suppliers in Latin America. We have maintained close trading relationships with these suppliers for many years and visit the farms at irregular intervals. This ensures that only cultivated species are grown in our greenhouse and that no wild-harvested plants are used. Imported plants are acclimatized in our cultivation facilities for several months before they are put up for sale. These imports are supplemented by an ever-increasing number of our own propagation through seeds or division. Thus, we not only increase our stock and the offerings for our customers but also contribute to species protection and the preservation of biodiversity.
Approximately 750,000 Tillandsias leave our nursery each year through our various sales channels, about 75% of which go abroad. Our Tillandsias have made the longest journey to major customers in the Caribbean or Southeast Asia.
