Rant and question: Last frost and protecting sprouting cypripedium?!

[Corrado & Rina]

Dear all,

We had the dubious joy of a late hard frost here in the NE, which froze the mini pond. The plants do not seem to have enjoyed particularly (the Rhododendrons in particular).

The cypripedium are sprouting under the layer of superficial insulation (I use cork granulate), but some already have flowering stalks that have emerged. Is there a way of protecting them?

By the way, it is the first time i have such a hard frost so late in the year: do they normally survive, or shall I just give up?

Regards

[Maggi Young]

"late" frost?   We've had frost and snow here in Aberdeen on 12th June - think yourself lucky is my initial reaction.
We had snowfall yesterday and overnight - not fun.

For potted plants it is usually much easier to provide them with additional protection - lifting  under cover at night or  using fleece covers .....

[SteveC2]

I am not too far away, down in Lincolnshire, but have missed any significant frost, not that I am too worried about it with respect to Cypripediums anyway.  Mine have been out all winter, as once again we haven't really had one.  If they are just buds then if you are worried and feel the need, throw a bit of fleece over them.  With bigger ones I think that would do more harm than good.  If they were in flower and potted you could always move them into a garage or greenhouse over night.  I am constantly doing the potty shuffle at the moment just to get into the greenhouse in the morning, but that is only because I am trying to protect a few things for an upcoming display.

I too am surprised that you think this is late for a harsh frost.  A couple of years back all the potatoes on the local allotments were trashed in late May.

I am sure that Cyps get harsh late frosts where they grow naturally so I am sure they will survive, but as for giving up growing them, never!

[monocotman]

I agree with Steve.
Use some fleece overnight if you are worried about them.
I did last night and we had a slight ground frost.
Even if they are frosted you will probably only lose a few flowers,
David

[Neil]

What is a late frost?   

[Corrado & Rina]

"late" frost?   We've had frost and snow here in Aberdeen on 12th June - think yourself lucky is my initial reaction.
We had snowfall yesterday and overnight - not fun.  For potted plants it is usually much easier to provide them with additional protection - lifting  under cover at night or  using fleece covers .....

Not very lucky, you forget we had >15C for days (>10C for weeks) and > 9C at night. Plant were in full swing.

This is Rhododendrn williamsianum after yesterday frost



lost all flowers and all the new growth.

This is the relatively rare R. recurvoides, which has lost al the new growth:



Not happy at all ....

[Maggi Young]

Yes, of course we have had similar damage here too. Your R. williamsianum shoots are gone, but if  you pick off the frosted tips and the season improves soon, you may well get regrowth. As to your R. recurvoides - I see only one shoot with real damage - most of the very young shoots look okay - have faith!

[johnw]

lost all flowers and all the new growth.
 is the relatively rare R. recurvoides, which has lost al the new growth:

Not to worry.  My friend recoiled in horror at an extremely late frost in the 1960's at Windsor Great Park one June.  T. Hope Findlay, the great plantsman, was ecstatic as he said it saved him weeks of pruning and dead-heading and so at last he could get down to some productive work with the trees.

john 

[SteveC2]

But on the plus side, I notice that there are no photographs of frost damaged Cypripediums which hopefully proves my point!

[Corrado & Rina]

But on the plus side, I notice that there are no photographs of frost damaged Cypripediums which hopefully proves my point!

Did not dare to check .... but crossed fingers, apparently there is more bad weather to come according to BBC weather.