This is the first year we are going to buy a balled, live Christmas tree to plant after Christmas. Any suggestions on how to keep it alive while indoors and planting in the middle of winter? Any do's and don't from someone with experience would be great!
Happy Holidays!
2007-12-14 07:12:09 · 22 answers · asked by tmb 2 in Home & Garden ➔ Garden & Landscape
the poster before me is right.... no more than a week inside!!!..... if it's inside in the warm longer than that, it will break dormancy and then die from the shock when you plant it outside.....
keep it cold and watered before bringing it inside... mist it good and let it drip dry just before bringing it in..... (be sure to protect your floor from stray drips if it's wooden)..... limit the time the lights are on so their heat doesn't contribute to the drying of the needles....dig and ammend, just a little, the soil from the hole AHEAD of time.... have it ready to accept the tree..... be able to water the tree in the hole really well at planting time.... have mulch to use around the base (*but not touching the trunk!) after the weather cools the area.... hang birdy treats on it if you'd like..... *smile*......as long as the weather does NOT have the ground frozen, there will be roots growing on your tree, so keep water on it... once the ground is really frozen, clear down where the roots are, growth will stop and you can relax.... but once there's warming, go back to it.... just be sure to TEST with your hand to see if water is NEEDED, so you don't drown the poor thing!!... *smile*......and don't use sugary stuff in the water you use.... you want the plant to stay DORMANT, not wake up and start growing!!!!.... all that might be good for a cut tree, but not for yours...............
2007-12-14 23:41:53 · answer #1 · answered by meanolmaw 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Put the tree into a fairly large pot (like a half wine barrel size). And you might want to get one of those rolling platforms (about 1 foot square with casters on it) to make it easier to move around. Make sure the pot has a drain hole and get a saucer big enough that the bottom of the pot fits into it. Set the saucer on the platform (if you got one) and place it where you're going to put the tree.
Use a standard potting soil and plant the tree into the pot just as you would a houseplant. Do this outside, so you can soak the potting soil and let it drain prior to bringing it inside.
At this point, the tree and pot will be very heavy and you'll probably need a couple of people to move it. Bring it inside and set it on the saucer. Move it around as necessary.
Check the soil every couple of days. Reach up and stick your fingers in the soil. If it's moist, wait another couple of days. If it feels dry, add some water (pint or two). Keep an eye on the saucer and, if it starts to fill up to where you think it's going to overflow, wick some of the water out with a towel or paper towels.
After Christmas, wheel the tree out to your yard. You can either continue to keep it in the pot or plant it in the ground. But, if you want to try to use it again the next year, just keep it in the pot.
2007-12-14 15:29:40 · answer #2 · answered by Paul in San Diego 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
7-up and water are good suggestions: Basically the tree will want a lot of water, being indoors in a dryer environment. If you water from the bottom, (a basin effect) the tree will drink what it needs. And in the 7-up is some sugar, which the tree needs for energy. But the ascorbic acid may not be too good for it: So stick to water, and maybe put a little sugar, or even jobs plant spikes for conifers.
2007-12-14 15:17:40 · answer #3 · answered by Jeanne babe 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
My family has always said it's important to water the base of a Christmas tree, as you would any plant. If you don't, the needles will start falling off too much and make a mess on your floor.
I believe some Xmas tree stand are sort of 'bowl shaped', making it easy for you to keep about a 1/2" of water down at the tree base, so it can get nourishment!
2007-12-14 15:16:35 · answer #4 · answered by viqifrench 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do not keep balled and burlapped christmas tree from drying out.
living Christmas trees are not houseplants they should not be kept in the house long term
Only keep a living christmas trees in the house for no longer than a week maxiumum.
2007-12-15 02:08:12 · answer #5 · answered by rflowers82476@sbcglobal.net 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
the indoor temperature should be on the cooler vs. warmer side. planting in the wintertime is good as the roots will have time to get established before the growing season. be sure the hole you dig is large enough for the root ball, put the right stuff in there (amended soil) and put mulch around the base to protect from frost.
if the ground is frozen you may want to keep in in the container until it thaws enough to dig in. (there's a reason people used to keep dead bodies on ice until the springtime -- it's impossible to dig a grave by hand in the wintertime.)
2007-12-14 15:19:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
just mist often and be careful you don't overwater it - look for yellowing on the pine needles; and don't make the mistake of planting it outside before the last frost. wait until at least late may if you're in the northern parts of the U.S., march if you're in southern climate.
most of the advice you're getting here is how to keep a DEAD CUT TREE from drying out and shedding.
Read People!!
2007-12-14 15:16:34 · answer #7 · answered by L.G. 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I've had a live Christmas tree every year of my life, all you hafta do is make sure that you water it every day and you're good.
2007-12-14 15:15:35 · answer #8 · answered by misses_DNA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you can plat your Christmas after Christmas so it has time to goring out doors and plant fool too?
2007-12-14 15:19:44 · answer #9 · answered by JustAsking 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I toss in a teaspoon of Miracle Grow in with the water....needles don't fall off even when I take it down and drag it out the door.
2007-12-14 15:16:54 · answer #10 · answered by riverrat15666 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋