Key Points
Browning and needle drop are common issues with real Christmas trees.Humidifiers help slightly, but daily watering is what keeps trees freshest.Give the trunk a fresh cut and keep the tree away from heat and drafts to slow moisture loss.
When a live Christmas tree is freshly cut, more than half its weight is water. The key to keeping your tree looking fresh throughout the festive season is helping it to retain that moisture.
You might have read that a humidifier is a helpful tool in this regard. But is it worth investing in one of these appliances to stop your tree from drying out and dropping numerous needles prematurely?
We asked the pros if you should run a humidifier near your live Christmas tree or if there are better methods to prevent it from looking brown and sparse before Santa arrives.
Meet the Expert
Heather Zidack is a Horticultural Outreach Educator in the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture, UConn Home & Garden Education Center, University of Connecticut.
Rick Dungey is the Executive Director of the National Christmas Tree Association, which represents the real Christmas tree industry.
The Case For Using a Humidifier
It’s not surprising to see recommendations for using humidifiers to help your real Christmas tree stay hydrated. Blasting central heating, fireplaces, stoves, and modern, well-insulated homes means indoor air is typically very dry in winter. These low humidity levels can accelerate water loss from the needles of your moisture-loving real Christmas trees.
“We do know that plants lose water through their leaves in a process called transpiration,” Horticultural Outreach Educator Heather Zidack explains. “This is a passive process where water moves from the leaf tissues and out into the dry air, due to differences in water potential.”
Zidack says it’s logical to think that adding moisture to the air may help reduce the vapor pressure difference and slow this process of water loss in your real Christmas tree. This is especially true given that there is limited research for growers on humidity levels that may help keep trees fresh post-harvest.
“However, those humidity recommendations are not usually conditions that we would find comfortable in a home setting,” she explains.
But if you already use a humidifier in your home in winter, placing it beside your tree won’t do any harm, and it may help a little.
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Why Running a Humidifier May Not Be Worth the Trouble
“There is no extensive research that supports the practice of supplementing relative humidity to help the longevity of your Christmas trees,” Zidack says.
In truth, the real-world payoff is probably minimal.
“Increasing relative humidity in the air around the plant may slightly slow the rate at which moisture is lost through transpiration,” Executive Director of the National Christmas Tree Association Rick Dungey says. “However, in a 1,000 sq ft home with 8-foot ceilings, that’s 8,000 cubic feet of space, and even a big humidifier wouldn’t raise the humidity level enough to make it worth it.”
The humidity levels required for a large tree would be near impossible to achieve with a standard home humidifier and would likely make it feel like you’re living in a tropical greenhouse.
Alternative Options to Extend the Life of Your Christmas Tree
The best long-lasting Christmas tree is fresh to begin with and stays well-watered. Follow these expert-backed tips to keep your evergreen looking its holiday best.
Pick a Healthy Tree
A tree that is already too dry and not looking its best when you buy it can’t recover well, no matter how much hydration you offer it. Starting with a healthy, fresh-cut specimen increases needle retention and evergreen gloss. With the right care, a healthy Christmas tree can last at least three to four weeks.
Fresh Christmas tree needles should be green, pliable, moist, and fragrant. You shouldn’t have lots of needles coming off in your hand when you gently pull the branch of a fresh tree.
Make a Fresh Trunk Cut
“Cutting the first few inches off of the trunk once you get it home will help open those vascular structures and support healthy uptake of water,” Zidack recommends.
Removing a 1/2- to 1-inch slice from the bottom of the trunk also removes any hardened sap. If you don’t have the tools or technique to do this at home, you can ask your Christmas tree supplier to make the cut.
However, if possible, place the tree in water within an hour after cutting to prevent more sap from sealing the trunk again.
Water Deeply
Proper Christmas tree watering is most important for extending its life. They can take up surprising amounts of moisture—up to several quarts a day, especially in the first week.
“I recommend focusing on daily watering of the tree at the base,” Zidack says. “While slowing the water loss from your tree may be helpful, keeping it properly hydrated is critical.”
She explains that if you allow the stand to go dry, the tree’s vascular system can become blocked by resins or air bubbles. This means it can’t replenish water lost through the needles.
Select a stand that can hold at least 1 gallon of water or one quart of water for every inch in diameter of the cut trunk base.
Just plain water will do. Avoid the much-touted home remedies of adding sugar, aspirin or cola, as these can do more harm than good.
Position Properly
Another live Christmas tree mistake is sitting it beside heat sources like radiators, heating vents, fireplaces, or super-sunny windows.
Also, steer clear of drafty spots with extreme temperature fluctuations. These can dry the tree out more rapidly. A consistently cool position helps slow water loss and keeps your tree looking good for longer.
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