Snowy orchids, snowy ferns...brrr!!!

[KyushuCalanthe]

Well, the snow came down this morning in buckets covering my yard and subtropical plants in a blanket. Currently around 1 C (~34 F) outside with more of the white stuff forecast today.

WARNING: DO NOT TRY THIS AT YOUR HOME!

Here is the backyard back in May looking green and growing. The staghorn is Platycerium superbum.

Same perspective this morning.

Platycerium bifurcatum and Tillandsia usneoides. Brrr!!!

Dendrobium moniliforme, nice and snowy.

And Neofinetia falcata as well. This one is an Amami Island type.

Ascofinetia Twinkle decided to put up a late season stalk. Don't think any of those flowers or buds are gonna pull through though! The plant will be fine however.

Finally, a shot of my office and the Japanese plum (Prunus mume) just outside. I have much of my epiphytic orchid collection out there. This is where I sit and type these words to you all.

 

[biothanasis]

Great photos! :clap: I did not know Asco would get some snow!!!!

 

[SlipperFan]

That definitely would not work for me!!!

Cool photos, Tom!

 

[NYEric]

Brrrr! Cool!

 

[JeanLux]

Wow, this looks like being a serious test for your outdoors!!!! Jean

 

[Lanmark]

The photos are great! Thanks for showing us! It's a shame this isn't as happy of an event as it is pretty. I sincerely hope all your plants survive. I have great faith in their hardiness to survive such temperatures for a day or two. I also think the covering of snow will act somewhat as insulation against further temperature drops.

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

Hey folks, I should note that this is not an unusual event - in other words, no problems. The staghorns are remarkably cold resistant and the orchids will breeze through. So far temperatures haven't dropped below -1 C or so and are not forecast to go lower in the near future. The orchids are hardy down to -5 C at least and the staghorns could probably endure that much with some damage, but nothing lethal.

Now, if these conditions prevailed for days on end, then there would be a problem. Japan's climate is very moderate, so extreme events would be rare indeed.

 

[Leo Schordje]

Really very pretty. Island climates are great for the moderation the ocean brings, except for the odd typhoon.

 

[Hera]

Amazing Staghorn! I always like to see pictures of it. Your backyard is beautiful!

 

[Kavanaru]

wow.. really nice... (and your home is gorgeous!)

I am also surprise with the Ascofinetia... My understanding was that this hybrid would not stand any cold...

 

[Candace]

Yikes!

 

[Shiva]

This is the kind of winter I would love: warm and cozy outside with a little snow for effect.

 

[Shadow]

I love your yard! Thanks for sharing! Hope everything is OK with the plants....

 

[Yoyo_Jo]

I'm so relieved that you posted that the snow was not an unusal event - my first reaction this morning when I saw your photo was Oh noooo!!!

 

[KyushuCalanthe]

I'm so relieved that you posted that the snow was not an unusal event - my first reaction this morning when I saw your photo was Oh noooo!!!

Well, I'll have to revise that comment a bit. The temperatures are not anything new, not much below freezing, but they have stayed around freezing for the past 36 hours or so. Add to that it is STILL snowing...the melting of the snow and then refreezing is not having a good effect on things. There will be damage to be sure, but everything should pull through OK.

This morning's pics:

Icicles! Even on the the native orchid, Luisia teres.

The Platycerium superbum is showing some damage on its new fronds too. It sustained similar damage last year and came through fine - albeit a bit ratty looking by spring.

I'm hoping we don't have a repeat performance again this winter!

 

[SlipperFan]

Brrrrrr.

Today, it's above freezing here (Jan. thaw...)