Christmas Tree Not Drinking Water? How To Keep Your Tannenbaum Hydrated This Holiday

Not drinking over the holidays is a healthy new trend. But when it’s your Christmas tree that isn’t drinking, there’s nothing healthy about it. A cut tree should look good for the entire Christmas season if it is kept hydrated. But a tree that’s not uptaking water will dry out, drop needles, and turn into a fire hazard.

You probably won’t have any trouble if your tree is fresh, the cut recently made, and the water is fresh. But what should you do if your Christmas tree stops drinking water?

Why Is My Christmas Tree Not Drinking Water?

It’s a long-standing tradition in this country to choose a Christmas tree, set it up in the living room, and decorate it for the holidays with glass bulbs and tinsel. It brings an outdoor feel to the room, smells good, and is often the focal point of the house come December.

The stand that holds up the Christmas tree has a built-in bowl for water. The cut end of the tree extends into the bowl so that the tree can uptake water to keep it hydrated. It’s a good idea to look at the Christmas tree water every day to make sure the tree is drinking. If the water level remains the same over the first day or two, there is a water uptake issue.

What to do if you see that the tree is not drinking water? Generally, a tree that is fresh and freshly cut will uptake fresh water. If your tree doesn’t uptake water, the first thing to try is cutting a small slice of wood from the bottom of the trunk. In fact, consider this when you bring the tree home. Any tree that was cut more than a day before you buy it needs to be cut again before putting it in the stand. The trunk cut will seals itself with sap a few hours after it is cut, which prevents it from absorbing water.

Unfortunately, if the tree you bought was not fresh, it will be hard to revive it. Check its freshness before you buy it by ruffling up a branch. If lots of needles fall, pick a different tree.

How Often to Water a Christmas Tree

A cut tree “drinks” more water than you might think. Count on the tree using a quart of water for every inch of trunk diameter. That means that a typical cut Christmas tree with a trunk that is 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter may drink an entire gallon (3.8 L) a day.

Water the Christmas tree by adding water to the container every day. It is important never to allow the water level to fall below the level of the trunk bottom.

How To Water A Christmas Tree

You can find in commerce a hundred and one different products to add to the Christmas tree water. And people will suggest a variety of household products too, from bleach to sugar to aspirin to copper pennies. Just say no. The best and healthiest way to water a cut Christmas tree is with water, pure and simple.

Tips to Keep Trees Hydrated

• Put your new Christmas tree in water the minute you get it home.
• Keep the tree out of direct sunlight.
• Don’t place the tree anywhere near a heat source like a radiator.
• Don’t use any sprays that claim to maintain the tree in good condition or retard fire. These can dry out the tree.
• Place a pitcher of water near the tree to remind you to keep the Christmas tree water container full.
• Don’t cut back the bark around the bottom of the trunk to squeeze it into a too-small container. That will prevent water uptake. Better to buy a bigger tree stand.
• If you need to cut the bottom of the trunk, don’t make the cut at an angle. That makes it harder to uptake water.

Frequently Asked Questions

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