Christmas trees are indeed quite fascinating, much like cut flowers. Both possess a unique knack for drawing water into their very fibers through capillary action, an impressive feat facilitated by their bark (in the case of Christmas trees) or stems (in the case of cut flowers). This remarkable ability allows them to stay vibrant and hydrated throughout the festive season, creating a magical ambiance in countless homes.

Nordmann Firs are living ornaments never fail to captivate with their natural beauty and alluring evergreen allure. So next time you gather around the shimmering lights and sparkling ornaments of your Christmas tree, take a moment to appreciate the marvelous journey it has embarked upon from the plantation to your living room, bringing joy, love, and a touch of nature's splendor to your festive celebrations.

Prepare the Christmas tree trunk 

We do this to all our real trees so you don’t have to! Just before you install your Christmas tree, saw off the bottom 1” (3cm) of the trunk. This creates a fresh cut and opens up the pores in the bark, which otherwise can block up with sap within a few hours of being cut. The real tree is then able to drink water through these pores via capillary action.

They need routine 

Do not expose your Christmas tree to sudden changes in temperature. Trees like most people are creatures of habit and prefer steady conditions.

Keep it away from any heat sources

Position your Christmas tree away from any heat sources such as radiators and fireplaces. Heat dries out your real Christmas tree faster, so the further away from potentially damaging heat sources the better, and the fresher your tree will remain.

Water your Christmas tree

Place your fresh tree in plain water - not soil or sand which would block the pores in the bark. This is best achieved by using a specially designed Christmas tree stand. Many precious hours can be wasted trying to make a Christmas Tree stand up straight in an ordinary bucket using just bricks or stones! All stands are not created equal, and we strongly recommend the Cinco stands which can be used on trees up to 12ft tall.

Then keep on watering it!

Keep the Christmas tree stand topped up with water. Your Christmas tree may drink 2-3 pints (1-2 litres) of water per day, depending on its size and your central heating settings. This is very important as once the water level drops below the tree’s trunk, sap will re-seal the bark within a few hours, preventing the tree from drinking any further water even if you then re-fill the Christmas tree stand. 
Also be aware that dogs often favour the tree stand as a convenient watering hole.

Be Aware that these trees are natural living things, and once they are cut they begin to die, sad as this is apart from artificial trees we are still without a solution to this simple fact of life. Time the arrival of your Christmas tree with this in mind to increase longevity and get the most out of it.