The lady's slipper orchid is one of the few terrestrial orchids that thrive in the open air for several years. The question rightly arises as to whether the unique Cypripedium will survive a Central European winter without ifs and buts. Read here under which conditions winter protection makes sense.

The lady's slipper orchid is not as delicate and sensitive as it looks

Hardy to - 25 degrees - If there is no snow, it gets tricky

The lady's slipper orchid prefers a semi-shady location that has cool temperatures around the freezing point for at least 2 months during the winter. Without this cold stimulus, the demanding beauty proves to be extremely lazy to bloom. The orchid only survives severe frost down to -25 degrees Celsius under a thick blanket of snow. If there is no snow, we recommend these protective measures:

  • If there is a threat of frost, cover the planting site in the bed with needle brushwood or autumn leaves
  • Ideally, place a breathable garden fleece over the root disc and fix it with stones on the sides

It is not so deep below zero that a lady's slipper orchid has problems. Rather, problems are caused by repeated changes between frost and thaw, combined with wet weather. Against this background, light coverage makes perfect sense, especially in regions with little snow.

How to save autumn shoots from frostbite

Under the influence of mild autumn and winter weather, lady's slipper orchids sometimes feel motivated to sprout in late autumn or early winter. Shortening the nosy shoots is just as counterproductive as digging up the plant and wintering indoors. How to solve the problem without losing next year's bloom:

  • Install a frost-resistant Plexiglas pane on supports above the planting site
  • Build the cover 10 to 20 cm above the orchid
  • Spread fir fronds on the pane for shade in frosty and blazing sunshine

In spring, this cover can be brought out again when delayed ground frosts are announced

tips

Don't let the striking resemblance of their flowers confuse you. The hardy lady's slipper orchid of the genus Cypripedium and the cold-sensitive Venus' slipper orchid of the genus Paphiopedilum are distantly related and confusingly similar. As a result, trade names are often confused. With a minimum temperature of warm 16 degrees Celsius, a Paphiopedilum is by no means suitable for the open air.

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Vegetable garden