Plant care
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood'temperature & humidity
Phedimus spurius
More about stonecrop 'dragon's blood'
Ideal temperature for stonecrop 'dragon's blood'
Temperature kills fewer stonecrop 'dragon's blood' plants than you'd think. What kills them is the micro-climate within a normal-temperature room — a leaf pressed against single-glazed winter glass, the hot dry updraft directly above a radiator, the cold blast from an AC vent. The thermostat reading at -35-30°C (-31-86°F) is fine; the spot you put the plant in matters more. Below roughly -35°C growth pauses; cold beyond that pushes it into dormancy rather than killing it outright.
Cold tolerance & winter care
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' is comparatively hardy (USDA 3-9, RHS H7). Within that range it tolerates a cold dormant spell outdoors; outside it, grow it in a container you can move under cover or overwinter in a cool but frost-free spot. Hardiness assumes an established plant in well-drained soil — a wet, cold root zone kills far more plants than cold air alone.
Humidity for stonecrop 'dragon's blood'
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' sits happiest at around 30-50% relative humidity. Adapted to dry, low-humidity conditions. Excessive humidity, especially combined with poor drainage, promotes fungal rot. Good air circulation at mat level is beneficial. The usual low-humidity tell is crisp brown leaf tips and edges while the soil moisture is fine — a sign the air, not the watering, is the problem. If you need to raise it, the reliable methods are grouping plants together, standing the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (the pot above the waterline, never in it), or running a small humidifier in winter when indoor heating dries the air most. Misting is the least effective — it raises humidity for minutes, not hours.
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' temperature & humidity — frequently asked questions
What temperature is best for stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' grows best between -35-30°C (-31-86°F). Keep it out of cold draughts, off freezing windowsills in winter, and away from the hot dry air directly above radiators — the extremes matter far more than the average room temperature.
How cold can stonecrop 'dragon's blood' tolerate?
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' starts to suffer below roughly -35°C. It tolerates a cold dormant period within USDA 3-9, but a wet cold root zone is more dangerous than cold air.
What humidity does stonecrop 'dragon's blood' need?
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' prefers about 30-50% relative humidity. Adapted to dry, low-humidity conditions. Excessive humidity, especially combined with poor drainage, promotes fungal rot. Good air circulation at mat level is beneficial.
How do I raise humidity for stonecrop 'dragon's blood'?
Group it with other plants, stand the pot on a tray of damp pebbles (kept above the waterline), or run a small humidifier in winter. Misting only helps for a few minutes, so it is the weakest option for a plant that genuinely needs more humidity.
Can stonecrop 'dragon's blood' live outside?
Stonecrop 'Dragon's Blood' is rated for USDA zone 3-9 and RHS hardiness H7. Within that range it can stay outdoors; outside it, grow it in a moveable container and protect the roots from a wet, cold winter.
More stonecrop 'dragon's blood' care
In the UK? Keeping stonecrop 'dragon's blood' warm in a UK home covers the radiator, single-glazing and heating-season humidity angle. Temperature and humidity are one piece. See the full stonecrop 'dragon's blood' care guide, its cold-hardiness guide, and watering schedule — humidity and watering problems are easy to confuse.