MNN - Mother Nature Network

Cut a small portion off the bottom of the tree. Dungey advises cutting a disk ¼- to ½-inch thick from the trunk. After making that cut, he says the tree should be placed in a stand of water within three to six hours. If the trunk of the tree has been scarred either in transit to the tree lot or getting it home, the trunk should be cut above the scar. The fresh cut on the bottom of the trunk primes the tree to take up water. The reason for promptly covering that fresh cut with water (or to cut the trunk above a scar) is to prevent air molecules from forming in exposed tissue. “Air inhibits the ability of the tree to uptake water and move it through the trunk and into the stems and foliage,” said Dungey. “Air is the enemy,” he said. “This is the same principle as cutting stems from flowers you bring home from the florist before arranging them in vase of water.”

Add water to the tree stand every day. Top off the stand with water even if it looks like the tree has taken up almost no water at all, said Dungey. Water absorption will vary from day to day. Some days the tree may take up very little. Then, without warning, it may absorb a lot. On the days the tree is thirsty, it may take up all of the water in a basin that isn’t completely full. If this happens and the bottom of the tree is exposed to air, then air molecules will form in the exposed bottom of the trunk and prevent future water uptake. The tree at this point will be susceptible to drying out, and perhaps losing its fresh look and becoming a potential fire hazard, as if you’d never trimmed the bottom of the trunk when you got it home. There are several reasons water uptake is variable, Dungey said. Low humidity in homes is a primary culprit. Another is that conifers used as Christmas trees have probably been dormant since late summer or early fall. Bringing a tree into a heated home can cause it to come out of dormancy. In fact, Dungey said, sometimes trees will even begin to sprout new growth with the lights, decorations and tinsel on them and presents under the boughs. This new growth is not sustainable, of course, because the tree has been harvested and doesn’t have roots.