Happy holiday, gardeners! The Glover Nursery team enjoys serving you at our annual Christmas Tree Lot.
However, many customers who buy trees from us (and other lots) kept coming into the store asking the same question:
“Why is my Christmas tree not drinking water, even though the tree stand is full? It then dries out completely.”
Short answer: The tree has either sealed over at the base of the trunk where the fresh cut was made, or it has already taken up enough water to keep it hydrated.
Why is this happening to my Christmas tree?
Fresh-cut Christmas trees no longer have a functioning root system (the root ball) and can only
absorb a limited amount of water through the trunk.
Proper watering during the first few days indoors can play a vital role in preventing it from drying out too quickly. Christmas trees in Northern Utah can drink up to a gallon of water per day early on, so it’s important to keep the stand filled during this period.
“Then why is my Christmas tree not drinking water, even though the tree stand is full?”
This is completely normal. You will also notice that the tree drinks less and less water until it stops completely. If this happens, don’t panic – the tree itself is most likely “full” and cannot store any more water.
Keeping your tree away from heat sources like fireplaces, heaters, stoves, or vents can help retain moisture and prevent any fire risks, as its needles are highly flammable.
After 2-4 weeks, your tree will slowly dry out, and the needles will fall off even if you supply it with nutrients and water. But how do you know if it’s starting to dry out? Your tree is drying out if the needles snap easily and fall off when touched.
Once it dries out completely, we recommend disposing of it or recycling it to mulch/compost, as the entire tree is now a fire hazard.
How to maximize your Christmas tree’s indoor stay
The first step to ensuring a fresh-cut tree’s longevity is to ask your Christmas tree lot to make a fresh cut at the base when you purchase it. At Glover Nursery we make sure that every tree has a fresh cut before leaving our lot but not all lots follow this practice. A fresh cut will remove the sap that has accumulated at the base and allow your tree to rehydrate once placed in its base in your home. For best results make sure your tree is placed in water within 30 minutes of having the fresh cut.
Another great way to prolong your fresh-cut Christmas tree is to use warm water during the first watering. Introducing warm water to the stand helps open up the roots and allows the water to move inside more easily, allowing for quick rehydration after being cut during the first few hours.
How do you prevent the Christmas tree from drying out?
Fresh-cut trees have a shelf life of 2 – 6 weeks before they dry out. The good news is that you can prolong the life of your fresh-cut tree by following these steps.
First, Glover Nursery sprays every tree and evergreen with Wilt-Pruf from top to bottom to prolong its “freshness”. However, it doesn’t completely stop it from drying out.
Wilt-Pruf is an organic, non-toxic pine resin spray that helps lock in moisture from your trees for up to three to four months. We also spray this on every evergreen we sell at the Christmas Tree Lot and Holiday Market.
Here’s an easy-to-follow explainer video by our Ryan Glover discussing the benefits of spraying Wilt-Pruf on your Christmas trees and evergreens.
Secondly, you want to make sure your fresh-cut tree has a true “fresh cut” before you bring it home from the Christmas tree lot. At Glover Nursery it’s our policy to do this once you’ve picked the tree you want but not all lots do this automatically. Once your tree has been cut you want to get it home and into some warm water within 30 minutes to make sure that sap doesn’t reseal the base of your tree.
Finally, supply your tree with fresh water. Freshly cut trees can drink up to a gallon of water a day. You will see this amount slow down the longer your tree has been indoors until it stops. This is natural.
If you believe your issue goes beyond the question “why is my Christmas tree not drinking water”, feel free to request a Plant Diagnosis from our team. Send us a photo of the problem area (and a few supporting details), and we’ll review it within a few days.
Other Commonly-Asked Christmas Questions at Glover Nursery
Alongside real, living Christmas trees and fresh-cut trees, Glover Nursery also sells wreaths, garlands, poinsettias, amaryllis bulbs, and tree stands during our annual Christmas Tree Lot and Holiday Market. Below are some of the questions we hear most often:
Why are my wreaths and garlands turning brown?
Your wreath/garland is probably losing moisture since it is cut greenery with no roots. Once it’s cut, browning occurs and cannot be reversed. You can keep them fresh for longer by spraying them with Wilt-Pruf and displaying them out of direct sunlight or heat sources.
Some gardeners may also just spritz them with water. We highly recommend avoiding doing this, as this may actually dehydrate your wreath/garland faster. Spritzing can likely pull the remaining moisture out.
Why is my poinsettia dying?
Poinsettias are tropical plants that need to be consistently in temperatures around 55-65°F during the daytime or 65-70°F at night.
Poinsettias will also not live outdoors during Utah winters, so it’s generally recommended only to display them indoors. There, it can last a long time with proper watering instructions.
