The lady's slipper orchid is one of the few terrestrial orchids that thrives magnificently outdoors for several years. The question rightly arises as to whether the unique Cypripedium can survive a Central European winter without any ifs and buts. Read here under what conditions winter protection makes sense.
Is the lady's slipper orchid hardy?
The lady's slipper orchid is hardy down to -25 degrees Celsius as long as it is protected by a thick blanket of snow. If there is no snow, we recommend winter protection made from needle twigs or autumn leaves and a breathable garden fleece.
Winter hardy up to -25 degrees - If there is no snow, things get tricky
The lady's slipper orchid prefers a partially shaded location that has cool temperatures around freezing point for at least 2 months during the winter. Without this cold stimulus, the demanding beauty turns out to be extremely lazy to bloom. The orchid can only survive 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 cold frost, cover the planting site in the bed with coniferous twigs or autumn leaves
- Ideally place a breathable garden fleece (€9.00 on Amazon) over the root disc and secure it on the sides with stones
It's not so much below zero that a lady's slipper orchid has trouble. Rather, the repeated changes between freezing and thawing weather, combined with wet conditions, cause problems. Against this background, light coverage makes sense, especially in regions with little snow.
How to protect 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 nose-like shoots is just as counterproductive as digging up the plant and overwintering it indoors. How to solve the problem without losing next year's blooms:
- Install a frost-proof plexiglass pane on supports above the planting site
- Set up the cover at a distance of 10 to 20 cm above the orchid
- In frost and bright sunshine, spread pine fronds on the window for shade
This cover can be taken out again in spring when delayed ground frosts are on the horizon
Tip
Don't be confused by the striking similarity of their flowers. The hardy lady's slipper orchid of the genus Cypripedium and the cold-sensitive lady's slipper orchid of the genus Paphiopedilum are distantly related and look very similar. As a result, name confusion often occurs in trade. With a minimum temperature of 16 degrees Celsius, a Paphiopedilum is by no means suitable for outdoor use.
