Tillandsia Eric Knobloch (large)
Tillandsia 'Eric Knobloch' is a well-known hybrid of Tillandsia brachycaulos and Tillandsia streptophylla. It was bred in the USA and named after the bromeliad enthusiast Eric Knobloch. This hybrid combines the vibrant coloration of one parent species with the curved growth of the other and is considered one of the more impressive cultivated forms.
Characteristics:
The plant forms a voluminous rosette with broad, slightly wavy to spirally curved leaves that can be silvery-green to reddish in color – especially under intense lighting. The upright inflorescence is a strong pink to red and may be slightly branched. The flowers are violet. Due to its Streptophylla ancestry, the leaf shape can vary – from loosely to tightly rolled.
Care Instructions:
Light: Very bright to sunny – the more light, the more intense the leaf color and the more compact the growth.
Water: Thoroughly mist 2-3 times a week or occasionally soak. Then allow to dry well – do not keep the rosette permanently wet.
Humidity: Medium to high (50%+), with good air circulation – avoid waterlogging.
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, relatively robust – can tolerate short-term temperatures down to about 10 °C without frost.
Note: Very decorative when hung in the air or mounted on wood. A popular hybrid due to its beautiful colors, flowers, and attractive growth – ideal for lovers of large, characterful Tillandsias.
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.
