Christmas Tree Farms
Real Christmas tree farms in the USA · u-cut and pre-cut · est. 2016

Christmas tree care after cutting

A cut tree is a very large cut flower. Treated right, it stays fresh for the whole 3 to 4 week season. Treated wrong, it seals its trunk within hours and slowly turns into kindling. The rules below come from NC State Extension, Penn State Extension and the National Christmas Tree Association.

1. Make a fresh cut before the tree goes in the stand

  • Saw a disk about half an inch thick off the base, straight across, not at an angle and not in a V shape.
  • Penn State notes a quarter inch is enough, and that a re-cut is only needed if more than about 12 hours passed since harvest. If you cut the tree yourself at a farm and get it into water the same day, you can skip this step.
  • Do not whittle the sides of the trunk to fit the stand. The outer wood takes up almost all the water.
  • If the tree stood dry for 3 or more days, make a fresh cut. A dried trunk stops drinking.

2. Water: one quart per inch of trunk

  • Use a stand that holds 1 quart of water per inch of stem diameter. For most trees that means a stand holding at least a gallon.
  • A fresh tree can drink more than a quart a day, most of it in the first week. Check the stand daily and never let the water level drop below the base.
  • Plain tap water only. Penn State is blunt about this: no floral preservatives, sugar, molasses, bleach, soft drinks, aspirin or honey. None of them help, some hurt. Water temperature does not matter either.
  • If the stand ever runs dry, the cut seals and the tree may stop taking up water for good.

3. Placement

  • Away from fireplaces, radiators, space heaters, heat vents and direct sun through south windows.
  • A cooler room slows drying. Lowering the thermostat measurably extends freshness.
  • Keep the tree at least 3 feet from any heat source and clear of exits. That rule is from the fire data, not from politeness: see the fire safety guide.

4. Know when it is done

  • Run your fingers along a branch. If needles break or fall off in your hand, the tree is dry. Take it down.
  • Other signs: a pale gray-green or yellow-green cast and brittle branches.
  • Do not keep a dry tree indoors into late January, and never burn the tree in a fireplace or stove. See recycling options.

Sources: NC State Extension · Penn State Extension · NCTA care tips