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My christmas tree is not drinking any water. Should I be worried?

I got my sheared douglas fir Christmas tree yesterday, put it in the stand and filled it with water but it has barely drank any of the water over the last 24 hours. I'm so used to trees gulping down water over the first few days so I'm worried that something is wrong. I'd hate to put all the lights and ornaments up only to have the tree die/dry out before Christmas.

I watched them cut off the bottom properly. Could there be something else wrong with it? Should I be worried or are some trees just light drinkers? Thanks Questionland.

Marty Unger asked in Whatever 5 months ago | Report

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  • 260726_100001072204759_1998250_n_small
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    i recommend taking out and cutting 6 inches off and placing back in stand the tree heals quick and its best to re-cut the bottom right before placing it in the stand and never let the stand go dry or will have to cut again and if keep doing that you can go from a 8ft tree to 4ft tree by end of xmas last year i wanted to see how long i could keep mine alive it was 3 month before finally threw it out and was still green and not falling apart

    Gregg Socia answered in Whatever 5 months ago | Report
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  • Qlandav2ex_small
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    How much was cut off the bottom?
    If it was cut down much longer before you thought it had been, it is possible that the xylem tubules that transport the water are dried and not open. The water that transports up the woody stem are in the growing layer at the barrier between the current bark and the older no longer living wood. If the bark has been torn or crushed significantly at the base of the tree then that transport system has been compromised also.

    A tree can be effectively killed just by severing the bark all the way around the trunk (called girdling a tree) by destroying this layer of living transport tissue tubules so essential to the living tree. Inspect the bark of the tree to see if there is any significant damage above the cut base.

    Cutting a significant amount off the bottom of the tree to try to get back to healthier tubule structure is your best bet. If your tree winds up shorter, but longer lasting, the trade off will be worth it.

    Russ Campbell, NWEBS answered in Whatever 5 months ago | Report
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  • Rex_racer_small
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    This is why I wait to get a tree - dry tinder covered in electrical wires and hot light bulbs just freaks me out too much.

    RacerX answered in Whatever 5 months ago | Report
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