How do I get my Christmas tree to drink water after it has dried out?

Question

I was keeping my Christmas tree watered for a number of days but then forgot to add water the day before yesterday. I then added hot water but the bowl is staying full and it is not taking any water. It is fully decorated so cutting off the next inch is not an option. Is there something I could add to the water to get it to drink again?

Answer 1

Depends on how dry it is ( a few needles falling off or piles of needles on the floor?)

Since it's already decorated you might try boring some holes in the trunk, well below the water line, so that you don't have to handle the tree too much.
Unplug the tree, then using a turkey baster, remove the water.

If it already is, or gets very dry I'm afraid all you can do is get rid of it. Pain, I know.
It may now be a fire hazard although the little cool lights today are much safer today than the old larger ones.

Still, spontaneous combustion does happen!

If you should ever decide to get an artificial tree just hang a wreath in the room with the tree 1 or 2 days before Christmas (they will be really inexpensive then too!) and you will still get a little of that wonderful aroma.

I've heard of (and tried some) many suggestions, ) aspirin, sugar, etc.but unfortunately I have never known any of them to work.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Water Christmas Tree

Answer 3

Well cutting it off is the best answer, but it would sure be a pain at this point. I think if it were me I'd try drilling into it or cutting it in some way that you could do while the tree was still standing. The goal is to open up the 'vascular system' of the tree to let it take up water.
This has happened to me in the past and I wasn't willing to take it down either. The problem with a dry tree is the fire risk. A dry one goes up FAST! What I did to be a safe as I could be was to get the air in the house as humidified as possible (humidifier, open the door and not turn on the exhaust fan during showers, boil water, etc. Also I got a spray bottle and sprayed the tree liberally, not to the point of wet, but lightly and often.

Of course, you'll want to remember basic fire prevention-don't use extention cords under rugs or packages, don't plug too much into one outlet, no frayed strings of light, great care with candles, etc.

Answer 4

I used to work for a christmas wreath making and tree selling operation. Here is how to save your tree, but you'd better act fast.
Heat enough water to fill the tree stand to 100 degrees (not quite boiling) Dissolve 6 regular asprin tablets in the water with 2 teaspoons of sugar. While the water is cooling, get a sharp kitchen knife and carefully crawl under tree. Scrape the bark on the bottom of the trunk with the knife until you can see a little of the inner wood. Carefully crawl back out. Get the water. Crawl back under tree and put the water mixture in the tree stand.
Then, get an empty spray bottle (rinse out a hairspray bottle or
windex bottle several times.) fill it with COLD water . UNPLUG
ALL CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ON THE TREE. Spray the tree all over with cold water. Try to avoid ornaments (or remove any paper or fabric or satin ones ). The tree should drip some water onto the Christmas tree skirt and look like it was rained on lightly.
Repeat Everything every 12 hours for the next 36 hours.
The tree should come back if it isn't too dead already.

Answer 5

since you tree is most likely lighted and decorated you won't want to undo it.

So, what you need to do is make sure that you can get to about two or three inches from the bottom of the base and drill into the trunk about a half inch or so past the inside of the bark, one or two will do.

then you need a watertight container that will be able to retain water above the hole that you have drilled, a water level of about an inch above the hole will due.

next you will need an additive in the water like a Karo or corn syrup not much maybe a tablespoon or two for the sugars in the tree, but pines need to replace some of the oleo resin that has been lost, check with a garden store for that. figure 3 oz to a liter of water as a mixture.

some recommend adding seven up or ginger ale as well as a few aspirins

Answer 6

Drill Holes In Christmas Tree

Answer 7

For best results.
1. Cut off the bottom of the tree, it may be scabbed over...you can lift up the tree & have someone cut it. You may need to trim some of the bottom branches.
2. Put warm water in the base & fill daily.
3. Put 3 crushed aspirin in the water (it will thin out that sap that causes scabbing of the part you cut).

The choice of doing a little redecorating v. just leaving it is yours.
Wish there was an easier way.

Answer 8

Hot water may have sealed the base of the tree so it can't drink. You may have no options available but cutting it. Here's something you can try though. Remove as much water as you can and then take a knife and put cuts in the tree at the base to reopen the veins. Only use cold water too keep the tree fresh and add an aspirin to the water. I don't know what it does but the components of aspirin help the life of the tree.

Answer 9

Sorry to say that once it has dried thats pretty much it. One little trick I use when I water....and just maybe (crossing fingers) with your situation.... take a regular white aspirin tablet and crush it into a fine powder then dissolve that into your water. I'm not sure if it will cause a dried tree to start taking water again but it works wonders at making a tree last longer.

Merry Christmas.

Answer 10

You can cut into the bark at the very bottom and see if that will work, if the water goes down it's working, remember next year get the tree a little later like the week before Christmas. Please be careful with your tree if it is badly dried out, so much of home fires going on with Christmas trees..I learned my lesson and got scared one year, said to myself never again a live tree, Get a fiber optic tree, they are beautiful and can be used year after year.