The living Christmas tree

November/December 2007

Nothing looks or smells as much like Christmas as a tree does.

By David Ross

As a child, I remember going to the bank with my parents to get our free living Christmas trees. They were only a few inches tall at the time, but after Christmas we planted those trees and watched them grow. They grew rapidly and became huge in no time. A few years ago, I chopped a branch off one and made a nice cut Christmas tree out of it.

Whether it’s living or cut, nothing looks or smells as much like Christmas as a tree does. And while a cut tree is nice, getting a living tree and nurturing it for years to come is a lot of fun and creates great memories.

To be successful with a living tree, try to follow these guidelines:

• Living Christmas trees belong outside. Keep them outside as long as possible before bringing them indoors -- a week maximum, if possible.
• Water them daily, whether they’re inside or outside. These are big trees in small pots and they will dry out quickly.
• After Christmas, move the trees back outside as soon as possible. Most living Christmas tree varieties grow rapidly and get quite large. If you intend to keep them in a container, transplant them into a larger pot to give the roots room to grow. If you intend to plant them in the ground, make sure they will have plenty of space to grow.
• If you don’t have room to keep your trees, look for a school or nearby park that may be interested in a donation.

David Ross is a horticulturalist and manager for Walter Andersen Nursery in San Diego and Poway.