Christmas tree isn't drinking much water

[si-am]

We got a tree from a local nursery on Saturday.... They made a fresh cut off the bottom and we had it in the stand with water and tree preservative within 30 minutes. But it's not drinking much water! Maybe an inch each day. The needles seem alright (not dry or falling off) but we get a real tree from the same place every year and they always drink a ton of water at first!

Has anyone else had this happen and has the tree managed to make it til Christmas?! I'm freaking out because I really do not want to have to take it down and buy another at this point. What a hassle!

 

[mjkacmom]

Doesn't sound good. Ds works at a nursery selling trees, and they are really struggling this year keeping them from drying out. They are wetting them down under tarps. Hate to say it, but I think we're going to cut one down this year - it's been way too warm.

 

[declansdad]

Try to drill a couple of holes in the trunk of the tree and add a little bit of bleach to the water.

 

[diznygirl]

Did you use very hot water at first? It prevents the sap from drying and allows the trunk to suck up the water.

 

[Neesy228]

We always get a real tree and some years the tree will drink a lot for weeks (like this year) and other years, it never drinks very much - even at the beginning. We have never had a problem with the tree surviving through Christmas and new years. We do cut our own tree though, so that may have some impact. I know that many of the "fresh cut" trees at nurseries and stores have been cut for weeks before ever coming home with you. Many years ago, the grandmother of the family who runs the tree farm we always go to, told us we never needed tree preservative, just hot water -- and we've always done it that way.

 

[georgina]

Mine is drinking about a half gallon a day, hard to tell from your description what an inch is. To me, ours seems to be drinking less than previous years. It's a Frasier Fir from Costco and hasn't dropped any needles yet (been up for a week). We have to take it down on the 30th because we will be out of town for 10 days, so I'm not worrying.

 

[bsblady01]

this is one reason we always cut down our tree. our tree has to live till we get back from Disney on jan 2nd

 

[si-am]

Thank you, everyone. I guess we will wait and see. Keeping our fingers crossed!

 

[RedAngie]

I don't think you have anything to worry about. Some cut trees I've purchased in the past barely drank any water and they lasted until the New Year. Yeah, some needles dropped when you walked past, but 95% of them stayed on. I'm sure your tree will look fine throughout the holiday season.

 

[SparklePixie]

this is one reason we always cut down our tree. our tree has to live till we get back from Disney on jan 2nd

If your tree isn't watered while you are gone, it will be toast by the time you return.

 

[bsblady01]

If your tree isn't watered while you are gone, it will be toast by the time you return.

by then it will be done drinking so it is what it is. we put our tree up over the weekend. my mom is going to come and put the santa gifts out before we come home so she can put water on the tree if it needs it.

 

[AppleDumpling]

OP, you've done everything right and as long as it looks green and healthy, I wouldn't worry. We get real trees, some years they need watering more than others, but we only keep it in the house about 2 weeks total.

My only suggestion is to keep the house as cool as possible, i.e. lower the thermostat at night and when you go out.