christmas tree care

Is there any place on the web site or does any one out there have any tips for christmas tree care ? like what if anything should be added to the water ? anti desicant or not?
laura

I've heard & read that after all is said & done, just keeping the tree stand full of water is the best way to go. That's what I do, & my trees have always stayed nice & fresh for several weeks. I have a really large tree stand - one of those newer huge ones that allows you to position the tree perfectly without any hassle just by stepping on a pedal - that holds a gallon or two of water, & I just keep it topped up with fresh warm water on a daily basis. Adding chemicals to the water is completely unnecessary, & can pose health threats - especially to pets that might consume the water.

Edited to add - one thing that is VITALLY IMPORTANT, & which most people neglect, is that the bottom 2" of the tree trunk should be cut IMMEDIATELY BEFORE BEING PUT INTO THE WATER-FILLED TREE STAND. This is why so many trees don't last as long as they might. People buy the tree & have the tree lot people cut part of the trunk right there at the lot. By the time these people get the tree home & set it up, the sap at the cut end has already dried & the tree can't take up the amount of water it should to stay fresh - just like cut flowers. If you take the time to re-cut the tree end at home immediately before setting it up, you'll be amazed at how long that tree - kept watered - will stay fresh.

This message was edited Dec 16, 2005 10:23 AM

Someone suggested putting Molasses in the water at the lot this year. I have been putting in about a teaspoon to every 64 ozs and the tree actually seems to be doing better than it usually does. I have had the tree for 2.5 weeks and after the first couple days, it's barely dropped any needles. Could just be that I got a fresher tree this year, but it couldn't hurt.

Breezymeadows suggestion about making sure you get it in the water very soon after cutting it is very important too. I have made that mistake before. If you get your tree home and it does not soak up at least quart of water overnight, it probably dried up and needs to be recut.

The trunk cutting part really is very important - to the point where it really can even refresh a tree that might have been originally cut weeks ago.

What we do is set up the stand first - sans water - cut 2" off the trunk, then set the tree up in the stand immediately & get it positioned the way we want it. I then fill the tree stand up with VERY warm water - just like I'd do with a floral bouquet - & wait a few hours. Nine times out of 10, the tree has soaked up nearly all the water in the stand within that time, so I fill it again. After that, I check the stand religiously every morning & top up with warm water.

do you use anti desicant?

Absolutely not.

In fact, there are tree lots around here that sell trees that have been sprayed with an antidessicant. You can tell because they have a surreal unnatural bluish artificial look. Folks I know who have purchased them have said that the tree has a funny feel to it, & that in the warmth of the house it gives off a funny smell as well.

Sorry - but the last thing I want in my house is a tree giving off Lord knows what sort of chemical fumes.

I know that when my husband brought the tree home he cut the bottom 2 inches off and placed it in a bucket of water out in the garage but I am not sure it was warm water it was most likely cold . I put the tree up this morning and put it in warm water and put up the lights I love having the glow of christmas in the house. now I am wondering if I should lay it down and cut more off before I proceed witht the decorations!
laura

good, I am glad to hear that . Some one was telling me that anti desicant was the only way to go .so I was wondering

Laura - I think what your husband did was great & that you don't need to cut off anything more before decorating. Just keep the tree stand topped up with water & I'm sure your tree will fare beautifully.

I thought anti-desiccants are usually applied directly to the leaves of outdoor evergreens, where extreme temperatures and wind can stress them, and cause them to lose even more moisture through their leaves - which can be especially bad when there isn't much soil moisture to replace what is being lost. (Around here, we're usually just admonished to keep our plants and trees watered year-round - but then again, we don't run the same risks of frozen hoses as those further north.)

I've never heard of anyone recommending an anti-desiccant for indoor use and I, too would be somewhat leary of having my tree coated without knowing what they're using.

Are there systemic anti-desiccants that can be added to water? (I'm familiar with the substances that can be added to floral bouquets to extend their life, but I don't think that's the same thing...)

Apparently there are systemics you can add to the water, but from what I've heard, they're extremely toxic to pets. So unless you're in a pet-free home, why take the chance?

And like I said - the spray-on's are unpleasant. We drove past a tree lot this past weekend that had both sprayed & unsprayed trees & you could tell the difference immediately. The sprayed trees were unbelievably artificial looking. Why anyone would want to have chemicals in the air of their home when all they really need do is just keep a natural tree well-watered is beyond me.

And unless you're planning on keeping your tree up until Easter, even if you do nothing at all, you'll probably be better off than sidling up to chemicals.

thanks you guys
I feel better my tree is looking good. One thing I like to do when the holidays are over is put the tree out side near the bird feeders and cover it with ornaments for the birds, I use popcorn and cranberries strings, pinecones with suet and peanut butter on them and some bread cut into shapes and covered with seed
have a happy holiday season!
laura

Oh Laura - I do almost the same thing!!!

In fact, I laugh as I roll the tree out onto the deck & over the railing while I hum the tune "Born Free" - lol!! (yes, I actually do that. Call the guys in the white coats & nets. . . .).

I roll it out to the garden area where the birds & rabbits use it for shelter during our winter storms.

If you are like me, and into extending "the season", after you and the wildlife are through with the Christmas tree, cut about a 12" section of the trunk off, cut that section into two pieces - about 2/3rds up - make a cross from the pieces, drill holes into the four ends, put in candles and - voila ! you now have your Easter wreath from your Christmas tree. Birth to death to life cycle of Christ from one tree.

Nice idea, but be DARN careful with that. Pine - dry or fresh - is EXTREMELY flammable, & I really can't say I'd be comfortable with lighted candles stuck in a piece of it.

I use only cedar and dripless candles and have never had a problem ( been doing it for 15 years).

The birds are great entertainment all year round but especially in the dead of winter : ) when I am really bored I make peanut butter sandwiches for the squirels I cut them up in bite size pieces then toss them out on the snow ( my kids used to love this they had names for all of them , they would kneel on the sofa and watch out the window for hours ) and on christmas morning I always put a special treat in the platform feeder for the birds and a bag of fancy mixed nuts in the shell for the squirels

laura - how neat. I have a several feeders with room for all. I do peanut butter and seed mix but han't thought about the sandwich. I'll try them.