Tillandsia balbisiana
Tillandsia balbisiana is a strikingly shaped species that grows epiphytically or lithophytically in Central America, Colombia, and Venezuela. It was first described by Antonio José Cavanilles in 1816.
It is named after the Italian naturalist Giovanni Battista Balbis.
Characteristics:
It forms an elongated base with softly curved, band-shaped, green-gray leaves that elegantly curl. The long flower spike bears bright red bracts and violet tubular flowers.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright to slightly sunny, but protect from strong midday sun.
Water: Spray vigorously 2–3 times a week or occasionally soak. Allow to dry well.
Humidity: Medium to high (above 50%), good air movement is important.
Fertilizer: We recommend using our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form 1–2 times a month in spring and summer.
Temperature: 18–30 °C, no cold or waterlogging.
Note: Due to its size and shape, it is ideal for larger Tillandsia arrangements. It requires a bit more space than compact species.
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.
