How to keep the christmas tree fresh?

[SteveD2]

Normally I don't get a christmas tree for several weeks after turkey day, but this year I've got to get one early. (long story) I'll probably be getting one tomarrow, and I'd like to keep it up until new years day. Normally by then it's dried out and dropping needles all over, and this year I want to keep it up a couple weeks longer than usual.

Anyway, does anybody know of anything I can do to help keep it fresh? I know to make a fresh cut on the bottom before putting it into water...

 

[labman]

The dirty little secret is that most trees, at least here, are cut months ahead of time. I am not sure but what the sooner you buy it, put it up, and get water in the stand, the fresher it will stay. Water, water, water. Do not let it go dry. There are additives you can add to the water that are supposed to help. I have heard they are nothing but a little sugar. The only other thing is too keep the room as cool as you can.

The only way you can beat the cut months ago, is to go to a cut it yourself.

 

[SteveD2]

I allways cut it myself. I'm in Oregon, there's at least 10 tree farms within 20 miles of me...I used to live on one of 'em!

 

[JHZR2]

ive heard a little sugar and a little asprin

JMH

 

[terminaldegree]

2 oz. of LC every two weeks.

sorry. I couldn't resist...

 

[Neil Womack]

Some growers use a product called "Cloud Cover" to control moisture loss during the heat of summer. And as I recall the label also mentions cut and potted Christmas trees.

 

[Ryan00TJ]

I've found the best way to prolong a tree's life is to drill a few 6-8" holes directly up into the bottom of the tree's base. They absorb water like none other this way and will last from Thanksgiving day to New Years day usually. HTH

 

[doitmyself]

Lots of university research has been done to test all of the methods listed above (drilling, solutions, aspirin, etc.)

In the end, the research proved that plain water is the best. Old wives tales die hard - we should all know this on this site.

Here is the address for the National Christmas Tree Association's web site that pokes holes in all of the home remedies:

http://www.realchristmastrees.org/care.html

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by doitmyself:

Here is the address for the National Christmas Tree Association's web site that pokes holes in all of the home remedies:

http://www.realchristmastrees.org/care.html

---

They didn't poke any holes, all they did way give advice and make unsubstantiated claims.

My experiance has been that a full month is no problem with the right additives. Without the additives, the needles don't stay green and flexible for a month.

 

[XS650]

quote:

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Originally posted by ZmOz:

Anyway, does anybody know of anything I can do to help keep it fresh? I know to make a fresh cut on the bottom before putting it into water...

---

I use the stuff they sell with the trees and with Christmas supplies in drug stores etc. It's some liquid you pour in the tree water. Others here have mentioned sugar and aspirin, probably works as well for less money.

Whatever you do, don't let the water pan run dry. If the bottom of the tree is exposed to air it seals itelf in a short time and won't take up water after that.

Really watch it the first few days, they suck up liquid like a sailor on shore leave at first.

 

[JohnnyO]

1 1/2 cups of water with 1/4 cup of corn syrup and a tablespoon of Clorox (keeps the mold away).

 

[Gary Allan]

The list of ingredients that I've found everywhere from the net ..to my local news radio (KYW) is

1 pt Karo syrup
2 pinches of Epson Salts
1 tsp of chelated Fe (local feed/garden store)
2 oz. of bleach
1/2 tsp of Borax
Hot water (two gallons)

If fresh cut ..place immediately in the solution.
If tree was precut ..cut 1" off of the bottom. Leave in for 24 hours. Use solution to water tree (somewhat toxic to humans).

This is what I've done for a few years. If we don't screw up and water it well enough ...it seems to work.

I've never tested the true "fire proof" aspect of this treatment.

 

[Gary Allan]

quote:

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They didn't poke any holes, all they did way give advice and make unsubstantiated claims.

---

I sent them an email to find out what the real story is.

hello,

Your advice is counter to most other authorities on the topic. Since they've been around longer than you, I don't believe you're correct. I tend to think, since you avoid any flame retardant suggestions, that you are in fact some "greenie" organization that is socially terra forming opinion with leaving out some "truth". You, like most of these organizations, tend to want humanity to suffer the ills of stupidity for the sake of some other meaningless agenda. I too want our dullards culled from the herd ..but having a Christmas tree fire as a modality of assuring that outcome is not in my plan.

What's the REAL reason that you don't want the agents most commonly used as flame retardants to be abosorbed by these Christmas trees? Is there some downstream liablity to having them in the trees that are recycled??


Thank you ...and have a nice day!

Gary Allan

 

[69 Riv GS]

Adding sugar does seem to help, perhaps one of the premixed specialty additives would perform even better, but either is better than plain water; also check the level often.
In addition, as Ryan00TJ recommended, drill several(within reason

) good size holes(3/8" or so) up into the trunk to a depth roughly equal to that of the base you'll be using; it does help.

quote:

---

Lots of university research has been done to test all of the methods listed above (drilling, solutions, aspirin, etc.)

In the end, the research proved that plain water is the best. Old wives tales die hard - we should all know this on this site.

Here is the address for the National Christmas Tree Association's web site that pokes holes in all of the home remedies:

http://www.realchristmastrees.org/care.html

---

I don't intend to offend; but did I miss something? I saw no research study references or even an explanation of why their methods("tips") are supposedly superior; and frankly I felt the information/content was suitable for someone 10 to 12 years of age.

 

[XS650]

We need some UCTA (Used Chritmas Tree Analysis) after New Years.

For consistancy sake, let's all cut a bit off the end of the trunk so fresh wood is exposed to the solution.

Report should include the following mostly subjective evaluations

Condition of tree when put up, greeness and freshness (how easy the needles bend).

Condition of tree when taken down, report on same as above.

How long tree was up.

Solution used in stand to keep tree watered.

Any extra holes drilled in bottom of trunk.

Was water level ever allowed to drop low enough to expose bottom end of trunk? If so when and how long.

Then, after you take it down, the fun part. Take a foot or so of a branch, step outside with it and see if you can get it to burn and sustain it's own flame using matches or a cigarette lighter.