Taking care of a Christmas tree is pretty easy if you picture it as a flower in a vase instead of a tree in the forest. Occasionally, though, you may run into the issue of a tree refusing to drink water. In this event, it is important to do some troubleshooting.
If it won’t take in water, it will unlikely last very long. And let’s face it, Christmas trees can be pricey and time-consuming. You want them to last through the holidays! That means keeping it hydrated. A dry, brown Christmas tree drops messy needles all over your floor.
Even if the tree is in the right-sized stand with the right amount of water, it may not be drinking. There are ways to get it to drink. Let’s discuss what to do when your Christmas tree doesn’t seem to care about quenching its thirst.
There are a few possible reasons why your tree is not drinking water. Initially, it could be an issue with sap deposits. It may need a fresh cut. Certain additives in the water can also inhibit uptake.
Before understanding why your tree isn’t drinking water, we must understand how much water it should be absorbing. It might not drink as much water as you thought if it’s not very big and the stand has a big reservoir.
The diameter of the trunk is the best way to figure out how much water it should drink in 24 hours. For every inch in diameter, your tree will need one quart of water per day. That means a tree with a four-inch-diameter trunk needs about a gallon of water every day.
It is especially important to get your tree taking in water on the day you bring it home. Just as with cut flowers, if a tree goes without water for 24 hours, it will decline rapidly. There are a few reasons why a tree might not be drinking.
A good store will cut the trunk fresh before sending you home from the tree lot or other store where you bought it. If you consider how cut flowers work, this makes perfect sense. A fresh cut removes the trunk portion that has dried over and will no longer absorb water.
You should make a new cut based on how long it takes to get the tree home and into the stand full of water. Once the tree has been dry for four hours without water, it needs a new cut. Don’t skip this step because it’s arduous getting that tree in and out of the stand.
Things get a little trickier if you’re here because it’s already in the stand and/or decorated. The best way to fix the problem is for at least two people to work together to give the tree a fresh cut. I wish I could tell you there is a great way to do this, but I haven’t identified it yet.
A buildup of sap is most likely to blame if a tree doesn’t take in water on the first day. When the tree trunk is cut, the tree sends sap there to seal the cut. When a limb is cut in the wild, it seals it over to prevent disease.
Trees have not yet evolved to know how to thrive as cut Christmas trees. We have to help them along. What should you do? Try watering with hot water.
Take this step when you first put the tree up, whether or not it has a drinking problem. When I say give it hot water, I mean boiling hot water. It may sound like you’re about to kill your tree. Don’t worry: there is a science to this method, and it’s pretty sound.
We talked about the tree sending sap to heal up the fresh cut that has been made. Hot water for the first watering breaks up any sap that may have formed on the cut. This clears the way for the tree to start drinking.
This should only be done the first time you water. Watering consistently with hot water is not good for the tree. Just once might be the answer to avoiding that awkward and difficult cutting situation. Give plenty of water for 24 hours before you worry about making a new cut. You might be pleasantly surprised.
There are many ideas on what to put in the water for your Christmas tree to make it last longer. Even though I’m sure they all mean well, most of them aren’t needed, and some of them can even stop your body from absorbing water and make you dehydrated.
You may have heard that bleach can help your tree in some other way, like getting rid of that sap cover or making it healthier. The reality is that bleach will kill plant tissue and shorten the life of your tree. Other sources say to give it a stiff drink, but I don’t think that’s a good idea because alcohol dries things out.
Aspirin and lemon juice probably won’t hurt the plants, and they might even make the water more acidic, which evergreens like. However, just because a plant likes acidic soil doesn’t mean it likes an acidic environment once cut. Acidity in soil helps break down the nutrients already in the soil. Without the soil, it isn’t necessarily helpful.
A little bit of flower food might be helpful to provide some nutrients, but that isn’t needed either. When it comes down to it, plain tap water is truly all your tree needs. If the trunk is taking in plain water, well, it is best to just stick to the basics.
Our main goal is always to keep your Christmas tree green and healthy during the holidays, so if the tree isn’t drinking, it’s a good idea to figure out what’s wrong. As with most things plant-related, it is best to keep things simple. First, cut the trunk clean before putting it in the stand. Then, give it lots of plain tap water to drink.
The Christmas tree is often the centerpiece of holiday decorations. Its fresh pine scent and festive decor bring joy during the season. However real Christmas trees require care to stay looking their best throughout the holidays. One common issue is when the tree stops drinking water.
Why Christmas Trees Stop Drinking Water
There are a few key reasons a Christmas tree may stop taking in water
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The original cut has sealed over. Christmas trees are conifers that produce sap which seals the cut trunk to prevent water loss. This sap seal prevents water absorption.
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The water level falls below the trunk. If the stand runs dry, air can enter the trunk tissue and prevent water uptake.
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The trunk is not cut freshly. A new cut right before setting up the tree helps maximize water uptake.
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The stand is too small. Stands should provide 1 quart of water per inch of trunk diameter. Too little water causes the tree to dry out.
How Often To Water A Christmas Tree
On average, a Christmas tree can drink 1-3 gallons of water per day depending on size. Check the water level daily and refill as needed to cover the cut trunk. Add plain water only, no additives which can cause issues. Place a watering pitcher nearby to remind you to check the stand.
Tips For Reviving A Dry Christmas Tree
If your Christmas tree dries out, revival is difficult but possible in some cases. Here are a few methods to try:
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Immediately cut a fresh section off the trunk and place in water. Remove about 1/2 inch of wood.
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Use warm water to soften sap sealing the trunk tissues. Once softened, water uptake may improve.
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Drill holes just below the water line to provide alternate water access if the trunk is sealed.
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Consider a smaller tree stand to raise the water level closer to the trunk if needed.
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Cut the trunk again and check for sap plugs. Remove any for better water access.
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Dip the cut end in floral preservative or diluted sugar water to encourage water uptake.
Preventing Christmas Trees From Drying Out
With proper care, you can keep your Christmas tree drinking well throughout the season. Here are some tips:
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Make a fresh, flat cut right before setting up the tree.
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Use a stand with adequate water capacity.
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Check water levels daily and refill as needed.
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Keep the tree away from heat sources like radiators or fireplaces.
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Don’t use trunk sealants or spray-on treatments.
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Water with plain tap water, no additives.
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Place the tree out of direct sunlight to slow water loss.
With attentive watering, your Christmas tree can stay lush and safethroughout the holidays. Monitor its water carefully and take action at the first sign of drying. A little extra effort goes a long way towards preserving your beautiful live Christmas tree.
Secrets to properly watering Christmas trees
FAQ
Should you drill holes in a Christmas tree when not drinking water?
How do I keep my Christmas tree hydrated?
How do you revive a dry Christmas tree?
How long after a Christmas tree is cut does it need water?
Why is my Christmas tree not drinking water?
ANSWER: There are a variety of factors that can come into play if your Christmas tree isn’t drinking the water you have provided to keep it fresh. Make sure to keep the receptacle in its Christmas tree stand filled with tap water.
Does a Christmas tree drink a lot of water?
“Plain ole’ tap water works best!” Gray says. If you’ve noticed your Christmas tree has stopped drinking as much water as it did when you first put it up, don’t panic. “It is not uncommon for the water intake of your Christmas tree to taper off as the season goes on,” Gray says.
Can you put water in a Christmas tree stand?
“If the tree is still not drinking water, you can add warm water to the tree stand to help dissolve any sap that may be preventing the tree from drinking,” Sons says. Some people swear by putting additives in the water of their Christmas tree stand, like bleach, vinegar, sugar, aspirin, and even commercial tree preservatives.
How do I Make my Christmas tree drink more water?
Another solution to help your Christmas tree drink water more efficiently is to trim the base of the trunk. Over time, the bottom of the tree trunk may become sealed with sap, preventing water absorption. By trimming off a thin slice from the base, you can expose fresh wood and enhance the tree’s ability to take in water.
How do you keep a Christmas tree hydrated?
You want them to last through the holidays! That means keeping it hydrated. A dry, brown Christmas tree drops messy needles all over your floor. If the tree is set up in a proper-sized stand with the right amount of water but doesn’t seem to be drinking, there are ways to encourage it to hydrate.
Do Christmas trees need a lot of water?
A freshly cut Christmas tree will be very thirsty, requiring a lot of water in its base to remain fresh and strong. It’s a common mistake to give a new Christmas tree a small amount of water, like a small daily top-up, instead of extra to account for the fact that it’ll be dehydrated from the journey home.