Now if I could figure out how to keep the wife's cat out of the tree......
Never complains. Never loses any needles. Good tree. 
keeping your tree alive
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,413
Likes: 14
From: cape may county NJ
keeping your tree alive
Any one have good tips for keeping your live Christmas tree living?For the last couple yrs I can't keep my tree living till christmas,last yr I had used a shop vac to remove the needles from the tree just to take it out of the house.I put my tree up last sunday and its looseing needles fast my stand holds 5 gal of water and I have tryed clear soda,tree preserve and dont know what else will work I put a humidifier in the room with the tree running at full bore,no help!.I blocked off heater vents near the tree and keep my heat set at 70.I was thinking of putting a fishtank air pump with a air stone in my stand to give it more oxygen,any body think that would work.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,651
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From: Maine
Where are you getting the trees from? Methinks the problem may be that they are pretty far gone before you put them in the stand, and nothing you can do will help them. If there is a cut-your own tree farm around, or one where they cut the tree for you but you buy it at the farm, you'll have a better chance of keeping it alive. Beyond that, I don't really know of much that you can do.
Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
A good root system, reasonable watering, and a huge planter do wonders. But you should not keep it indoors for too long.
Else get an artificial one.
I miss my blue spruce...
It was just four and a half feet tall when that fool woman I married decided that it was best thrown away when I went to sea.
I had kept it on my apartment balcony for three years, and only brought it in for the week of christmas when it was gaudily dressed up for the season.
And then it went back outdoors to continue it's growth.
I am not necessarily a "tree hugger", but I do admit that I have odd pets at times. I also think in the same terms my father did: "What is the use of small things?" A Japanese might be content with a bansai. I had a full sized tree....
"SHE" never realised that it was a family member the same as a dog.
Then again, I doubt she'd have given a damn.
When christmas was far away, and I was all alone, because I could not have pets - "Tree-San" and I kept eachother company.
It was an excellent plant, and it thrived....
Until I married someone weak and stupid
Else get an artificial one.
I miss my blue spruce...
It was just four and a half feet tall when that fool woman I married decided that it was best thrown away when I went to sea.
I had kept it on my apartment balcony for three years, and only brought it in for the week of christmas when it was gaudily dressed up for the season.
And then it went back outdoors to continue it's growth.
I am not necessarily a "tree hugger", but I do admit that I have odd pets at times. I also think in the same terms my father did: "What is the use of small things?" A Japanese might be content with a bansai. I had a full sized tree....
"SHE" never realised that it was a family member the same as a dog.
Then again, I doubt she'd have given a damn.
When christmas was far away, and I was all alone, because I could not have pets - "Tree-San" and I kept eachother company.
It was an excellent plant, and it thrived....
Until I married someone weak and stupid
Last edited by Greywolf; Dec 17, 2005 at 02:40 PM.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
Likes: 46
From: Drummonds, TN USA
That was not what you were asking, but if you have it to do still - I recommend a live tree in a large planter. get one that is about two feet tall from a landscaping place, they only grow about a foot per year and the children can learn from it....
But for a "CUT OFF" tree that is doomed- you can ensure there is a bowl around the base of the tree, filled with water. Add "MIRACLE GROW" to the water, and it will help it. It will absorb nutrients directly, and that will prolong its demise.
It will still die. It is like someone on heart/lung support. When it is over, it is over. That is why I went to live trees. Jesus died for us - nothing else needs to.
There again - a dead tree makes a cheery fire, don't it???
(So who is BSing WHOM?)
All I am really telling you is that you have several options.
~Wolf
PSONEDIT: I hope I made Ivan snort rum out of his nose...
But for a "CUT OFF" tree that is doomed- you can ensure there is a bowl around the base of the tree, filled with water. Add "MIRACLE GROW" to the water, and it will help it. It will absorb nutrients directly, and that will prolong its demise.
It will still die. It is like someone on heart/lung support. When it is over, it is over. That is why I went to live trees. Jesus died for us - nothing else needs to.
There again - a dead tree makes a cheery fire, don't it???
(So who is BSing WHOM?)
All I am really telling you is that you have several options.
~Wolf
PSONEDIT: I hope I made Ivan snort rum out of his nose...
Last edited by Greywolf; Dec 17, 2005 at 02:56 PM.
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 29,941
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From: Drummonds, TN USA
Shoulda dug it up
It could have been yours for generations in your front yard.
IE: I have no problems in clear weather if the tree is in the yard.
It's more natural like that. The gifts will not be harmed
It could have been yours for generations in your front yard.
IE: I have no problems in clear weather if the tree is in the yard.
It's more natural like that. The gifts will not be harmed
Last edited by Greywolf; Dec 17, 2005 at 03:34 PM.
Posting Guru
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,420
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From: Langhorne, PA
I always make the last cut with a fine-tooth wood saw,( a hand saw) in order to clean up the bottom. The tree gets all of its water from the living wood just under the bark, I usually use plain water since we used to have pets that drank from the water source. I drill a hole in the dead center of the wood and line up the stand center pin in the hole, straighten up the tree and put the best side forward. Then tighten up the three bolts around the trunk tight, but not so tight they drill thru the bark. I think it is important to have a the outer edges of the trunk (the living wood) in the water only, anotherwards don't have the bark jammed up against the base too tightly, that could only damage the living cells more and impede their ability to draw water.
Senior User
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 433
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From: Houston, TX
The sap dries on the bottom after the tree is first cut sealing it to the point that it is difficult for the tree to absorb water. As I think has been stated before, the best thing for a cut tree (sorry Greywolf) is to cut about an inch off the trunk before you put it into a water stand. This opens up the "pores" and lets it drink a lot more water a lot easier.
Last edited by TXPSD; Dec 17, 2005 at 07:26 PM.
Elder User
Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 800
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From: Ontario, canada
[QUOTE=Greywolf]
It will still die. It is like someone on heart/lung support. When it is over, it is over. QUOTE]
Geez.... My family outing afternoon just turned into an act of sadism....
One good thing is that my tree will go out on Lake Huron after Christmas to help guide snowmobilers through stormy nights.
It will still die. It is like someone on heart/lung support. When it is over, it is over. QUOTE]
Geez.... My family outing afternoon just turned into an act of sadism....
One good thing is that my tree will go out on Lake Huron after Christmas to help guide snowmobilers through stormy nights.