Tillandsia pseudobaileyi
Tillandsia pseudobaileyi is a striking, medium-sized species from Central America, particularly widespread in Mexico, Guatemala, and Honduras. It was described by Lyman B. Smith in 1953.
The name "pseudobaileyi" means "false baileyi" and points to its external similarity with the related Tillandsia baileyi – however, it is a distinct species with characteristic features.
Characteristics:
This species has a narrow, elegantly curved rosette with long, silvery-green leaves that often spiral. The surface is covered with dense trichomes, giving it a velvety-matte appearance. The inflorescence is upright and displays violet tubular flowers with reddish-purple bracts. The plant appears very sculptural due to its shape and is well-suited for decorative arrangements.
Care Instructions:
Light: Very bright to sunny; direct sunlight promotes vitality and coloration.
Water: Thoroughly mist 2–3 times per week or soak as needed. Then allow to dry completely.
Humidity: Medium to high (starting at 50%); airy location is necessary.
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, apply our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form 1–2 times per month.
Temperature: 16–30 °C, briefly frost-free down to about 5 °C is possible.
Note: Tillandsia pseudobaileyi is easy to care for, grows slowly, and is particularly suitable for bright windowsills, airy wall mounts, or cork arrangements. Due to its elegant growth, it is a real eye-catcher – especially in combination with other delicate 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.
