The dragon tree is a popular houseplant in many European countries because it has no problem with consistent temperature and light conditions all year round. However, many a proud owner of an older dragon tree is faced with the question of whether the dragon tree can sometimes survive in the open air.
Can you keep a dragon tree outside?
Dragon trees can be left outside in summer when night temperatures are above 10 degrees Celsius. You should slowly accustom the tree to direct sunlight, protect it from drafts and avoid waterlogging. Year-round outdoor cultivation is not possible in colder locations.
Warning: This plant quickly gets cold feet
Of course, even the most spoiled houseplants originally come from a natural occurrence in the wild. This is also the case with dragon trees, although their original distribution areas can be found in rather warm and, above all, mild regions all year round, such as the Canary Islands. Therefore, not only are dragon trees absolutely sensitive to frost and therefore cannot be overwintered outdoors, but even temperatures below a threshold of around 10 degrees Celsius can become problematic for dragon trees. This means that year-round outdoor cultivation in European locations north of the Alps is simply impossible. If your dragon tree becomes too large to be grown indoors, we recommend cutting it back very heavily instead of planting it in the garden.
Use the summer season for a dragon tree holiday in the fresh air
Many owners of dragon trees treat their protégés to a kind of “summer freshness” outdoors during the summer months, which is fundamentally nothing wrong with. However, you should observe the following basic rules:
- Only put the dragon tree outside if it is not colder than 10 degrees Celsius (plus degrees!) at night
- repotting is recommended in spring
- Dragon trees need to be gradually accustomed to direct sunlight indoors after winter
- Drafts can have a damaging effect on dragon trees
The above principles make it clear that a location on the balcony best meets the needs of a dragon tree.
Be careful of wet conditions
Unfortunately, placing the dragon tree outdoors in direct sunlight for a maximum of a few hours per day and protected from drafts is not enough. You also need to make sure that the leaves and roots of the dragon tree do not suffer from long periods of summer rain. Otherwise, various fungal diseases could easily infect the dragon tree.
Tip
A dragon tree can also be sprayed outdoors (especially in covered locations) regularly with a little water (as low in lime as possible).
