Tillandsia ehlersiana
epiphytic dry Tillandsia from South America. It requires no soil, thrives well in bright locations, and absorbs moisture through its leaves.
Tillandsia ehlersiana originates from Mexico and is an extraordinarily beautifully shaped species that belongs to the classic dry Tillandsias.
It is named in honor of the well-known Tillandsia expert Renate Ehlers. With its elegant spiral shape and velvety surface, it is a true adornment in any collection and is very popular among enthusiasts and design lovers alike.
Features:
This species forms dense, spiral-twisted rosettes with thick, heavily trichome-covered leaves, giving it an almost velvety, silvery appearance. Its compact growth and architectural form make it particularly decorative. With good care, a bright red inflorescence appears, from which intensely violet tubular flowers emerge – a fascinating contrast to the silvery plant.
Care Instructions:
Light: Very bright, preferably with some direct sun in the morning or evening
Water: Spray vigorously 2–3 times a week or occasionally soak, then allow to dry well
Humidity: Medium to high – good air movement is important to avoid waterlogging
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1–2 times a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form
Temperature: Optimal at 18–28 °C, can also tolerate short periods of cooler temperatures above 10 °C
Note: Due to its slow growth and distinctive shape, Tillandsia ehlersiana is perfect for solo presentations – for example, in glass spheres, on branches, or in minimalist wire or wall holders.
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.
