How to Care for Live Christmas Trees
You have purchased a live tree that thinks it is winter and does not expect to be having a warm winter holiday in your house. To ensure that it survives, please follow these steps.
Leave it outside in the weather until Dec. 15th. It should only be inside for 10 days.
The root ball must always be moist. Check daily for water. If the root ball is in a burlap sack, do not remove, but place it in a suitable pot with potting soil, moist peat, or sawdust. Remember to place a saucer under the pot to avoid damage to the floor.
Decorate the tree as normal but do not use lights that release too much heat around the tree (LED lights are suitable). Do not flock the tree.
Right after Christmas, place the tree outside, or in an unheated room if the outdoor temperatures are below minus five (-5C).
If you wish to keep the tree in the pot, place outside and apply a slow release fertilizer by March. Do not grow the tree inside. Be prepared to water the tree up to 3 times a week by summer.
If the tree keeps its colour and puts on growth in spring, then you have been looking after the tree properly.
