We finally got our live tree just before the storm hit. I know you can add things to the water to keep it fresh longer, but I can't remember what. Please offer any ideas. I've heard of sprite, bleach....help!
Thank you for all your responses. To keep the live tree from drying out, the best advice is to cut off the bottom for a fresh cut then water the daylights out of it. The show Mythbusters said that water is the best help and other additives can only harm it. Thanks again.
Mythbusters, that show on TLC, did a show about this a few days ago (or re-ran it). They found that the one that stayed the greenest and lost the fewest needles had NOTHING added to it. Just regular water. Those that had bleach, sprite, and some other odd stuff (like viagra) added did worse than the tree with nothing. You can probably find it on TLC.com if you are interested in their "research."
I use boiling water. I forget where I heard that but it seems to work.
Did you get a fresh cut on the bottom when you bought it? I know you need that so the tree can absorb the water. Otherwise I think you may need to check it 2-3 times a day and put water in accordingly.
I've heard of SO many things you can add to the water.
We know the Christmas tree farmer that sells us our tree every year. He says to add warm water for the first day or two and then just make sure it always has water.
We've never added anything to the water and we've never had a problem. I think it also depends on the type of tree. One year we had a Balsam fir and it dropped needles like crazy! We now get Fraser firs and they're great.
A little bit of Sprite does help. I'm sure you already decorated it, but cutting the end off fresh at your house right before you put it into the stand helps it to soak up the water much better as well. Make sure you have a humidifier running in your house, water daily, and you should be good. Merry Christmas!! :-)
