Twelve Foot Tall Cordyline In Unheated Conservatory. It’s Touching The Roof, Will It Live Outside?

Question

I have access to a strong lad to move it!

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Answer 1

It looks like the average lows for your area can hit 1 degree C in January. Cordyline ( C. fruticosa and C. terminalis) performs best in temperatures that range from 18-35 degrees C. A brief dip shouldn't harm it, but cold temps in Cambridge tend to be sustained for a long period. Your plant probably would not make it through the winter unless you provided shelter during the cold months. You can cut the plant back and propagate it to shorten it. These articles tell you how:

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/houseplants/ti-plant/growing-ti-plants-outdoors.htm

https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/publication/FP141

https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/OF-33.pdf