Tillandsia elizabethae
Tillandsia elizabethae is a rare species from the dry highlands of Mexico, particularly in the state of Hidalgo. It was described in 1972 by Werner Rauh and Walter Weber.
The name honors Elizabeth McDougall, a supporter of botanical research work. Its elegant shape and strikingly colored flowers make it a valued collector's species.
Characteristics:
Tillandsia elizabethae grows stemless in a loose rosette with numerous fine, silvery-gray leaves densely covered with trichomes. The upright flower spike bears bright pink bracts, from which delicate violet to lavender tubular flowers emerge. The species is relatively slow-growing but regularly produces offsets after flowering.
Care Instructions:
Light: Very bright to sunny – requires plenty of light for healthy growth and robust flower production.
Water: Spray vigorously 2–3 times a week or occasionally soak. Then allow to dry completely.
Humidity: Moderate (40–60%), good air circulation is important – drought tolerant.
Fertilizer: we recommend using our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form 1–2 times a month in spring and summer.
Temperature: 16–28 °C, tolerates cooler temperatures down to about 5 °C for short periods, as long as it remains frost-free.
Note: Ideal for airy mounts on stone or cork bark. Due to its understated elegance and beautiful flowers, it is a hidden gem for enthusiasts of xeric Tillandsia species from Mexico.
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.