Tillandsia espinosae
Tillandsia espinosae is a rarely cultivated, smaller species of Tillandsia from the tropical Andean regions of Ecuador and northern Peru.
It was named in honor of the Ecuadorian botanist Mario Espinosa. Its dense, compact growth form and vibrant inflorescence make it a charming eye-catcher, especially for collectors of rare species or lovers of intricate air plants.
Characteristics:
Tillandsia espinosae grows in a compact rosette with narrow, densely silver-covered leaves that are excellently adapted to dry high-altitude environments due to their numerous trichomes. The mostly reddish, unbranched inflorescence bears striking purple to violet flowers that stand in strong contrast to the silvery plant. The species remains rather small and is ideally suited for finer arrangements or group plantings.
Care Instructions:
Light: Bright location with some direct sunlight, e.g., in the morning
Water: Spray thoroughly 2-3 times a week or briefly soak, then allow to dry completely
Humidity: Medium to high – good air circulation is crucial
Fertilizer: In spring and summer, 1-2 times a month with our special Tillandsia or orchid fertilizer in diluted form
Temperature: Ideal at 18-26 °C, protect from frost
Note: Tillandsia espinosae is perfectly suited for decorative mini arrangements due to its small size and attractive growth form, e.g., on small pieces of bark, in glass globes, or as a light accent on wire or cork 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.
