tree not drinking at all...is there anything we can do???

[mtemm]

our christmas tree is beautiful. we got it last friday, put it up and decorated it over the weekend. sadly, it isn't taking in any water. I've never had that happen! is there anything we can do? its a very fresh feeling fraser fir, but I Know if it doesn't start taking in water, that won't last long.

any chance it will last till christmas?

sigh.

eta, we buy from a local farm and had them do a fresh cut. was in water within 20 minutes or so

 

[java]

You're not going to like this answer but you could recut the bottom.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

our christmas tree is beautiful. we got it last friday, put it up and decorated it over the weekend. sadly, it isn't taking in any water. I've never had that happen! is there anything we can do? its a very fresh feeling fraser fir, but I Know if it doesn't start taking in water, that won't last long.

any chance it will last till christmas?

sigh.

Did you cut it before you put it up? Always cut it.

You have to cut the bottom.

 

[MIGrandma]

You're not going to like this answer but you could recut the bottom.

That's what I was going to say. I know when I was growing up and we had real trees we always made a fresh cut at the bottom before putting it into the stand and adding water.

 

[luvmy3]

It sounds like the bottom re-sealed (from the sap) so you'll need to re-cut it.

 

[Swan4Me]

I bet most people dont make that fresh cut

 

[tOSU]

You can lead a tree to water but you cant make it drink...

 

[dyna]

I've noticed here in FL home depot an lowes re cuts the tree when you buy it but the grocery stores an etc does not. So if you do not own a saw or know the proper way to use a saw next year you might look to buy tree somewhere they recut tree for you.

Even then the tree needs to be put in water right away before it seals it's self again...any old bucket works for that just don't use your favorite mop bucket as the sap will prolly get on it an is hard to remove.

 

[Disx5]

I notice you are in MA, too. We have the same problem.

Bought a balsam, gave it a fresh cut, put it in water. It started losing so many needles, it looked like January when we usually take it down - not early December!

So, thinking it was just a dud, we took it back and got a beautiful frasier fir. Brought it home, gave it a fresh cut, put it immediately in a new stand with plenty of water. Same thing - not taking much at all.

As a last ditch effort, we took everything off the tree last night, put a sheet of plastic on the floor, laid the tree down and cut two more inches off the bottom.

Don't know if it will help but I'm hopeful...

Never had this problem in all the years we've had real trees.

MY THEORY: our unusually warm November dried out all the trees. Normally, the trees here are cut early but they sit around in 30-40 weather (or colder), sometimes snow and ice, etc. Our temps of 50's - 60's plus, and all the sunshine dried out all the trees.

I have a sister that lives in the south and said the trees on their lots sit in buckets of water (probably for that reason???) Ours don't usually sit in water until you give them that fresh cut either at the lot or at home. I wonder if they don't need to since the temperature is usually cold.

Good luck with your tree - I'll be curious to see how others fare with live trees in the Northeast this year!

 

[mtemm]

thanks all. I edited my original post to reflect that yes, a fresh cut was given and it was in water very quickly. Disx5, very interesting that you are finding the same thing this year! its so strange. and I know that yeah, we really do need to take it all down, recut, then put it back up, but DH is not on board with that at all. he thinks it will be fine. I think he is sticking his head in the sand on that one, but I have a feeling that is what we will end up doing. we'll see.

so far it is super fresh feeling, but again, I know that is the optimist in me that thinks that is going to make a difference in the next week or two!

will show him these posts and see if he changes his mind.

 

[Alsobrook]

Ok, try this:

If you have one of the stands that requires you to screw four bolts into the sides of the tree in the stand....

Have someone hold the tree so it doesn't fall.

Unscrew the bolts....

Turn the tree 1/8 turn....

Rebolt the tree.

Fill with enough water to reach the original holes (that's pretty high) and see if it takes on water.

 

[scrapquitler]

thanks all. I edited my original post to reflect that yes, a fresh cut was given and it was in water very quickly. Disx5, very interesting that you are finding the same thing this year! its so strange. and I know that yeah, we really do need to take it all down, recut, then put it back up, but DH is not on board with that at all. he thinks it will be fine. I think he is sticking his head in the sand on that one, but I have a feeling that is what we will end up doing. we'll see.

so far it is super fresh feeling, but again, I know that is the optimist in me that thinks that is going to make a difference in the next week or two!

will show him these posts and see if he changes his mind.

I wouldn't be enthusiastic about taking it down, recutting and redecorating either!

Here's an idea. I don't know if it's a GOOD idea or not, but its something I just thought of. I wonder if you could use a turkey baster or something to take the water out of the stand, then take a drill with a big drill bit in it and drill some holes in the sides of the trunk under the level where the water will be (not all the way thru the trunk just part way in). Maybe those drill holes will give the tree a place to suck up the water??

I'm in the camp that says the weather has been warm and it has effected the trees this year. I seem to remember reading something about Hurricaine Irene having some effects on them as well, but I don't remember the specifics.

 

[declansdad]

Fresh cut and add a very little bit of bleach or you can get stuff specifically for christmas trees. It helps keep the cut from closing itself off. Do not add very much or it will kill the tree, you only need a few drops. SOme people say lemon-lime will do the same thing.

 

[si-am]

We use an additive called Prolong that supposedly encourages the tree to drink more. (You just mix it into the water at the base of the tree). So far so good!

 

[Magic Mom]

Is the bottom of the trunk flush against the water pan? That might be blocking the water from being drawn up. I would raise the tree a half inch or more, drill a few holes in the sides of the trunk(under the water line) and add an asprin to the water.

 

[Carnie]

Pretzels.

 

[Grimley]

I know from experience that you can take the decorated tree out of the stand, lay it on a sheet and make a fresh cut, and put it back in the stand. You'll have to take off the delicate ornaments, but the rest will just need a little rearranging after it's upright again.

 

[Christine]

Just lift the tree out a bit and drill some holes down near the base.

 

[ksjayhawks]

My dad always watered with warm sugar water.