Christmas Tree Preservatives

[lyssa-anne]

I was just wondering what those of you with real trees use in the water to help preserve the tree longer. We just use sugar water. I have noticed that you can buy tree preserver now, has anyone tried it and if so how well did it work? I also have heard a mixture of warm water (1qt) light corn syrup (1/2 cup) liquid chlorine bleach (1 tsp) mix it up and use that to top up the tree everyday. I would like to find something that works fairly good so that I can get my tree earlier and still have needles at Christmas time.

[Mummy deer-est]

Hey, Lyssa-anne, I put this in another thread, but you may find it helpful. I haven't tried the actual preservative, but have done the sugar water too. This info came from a mythbusters -- just scroll down a little to get the the christmas tree section.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MythBusters_episodes:_Specials#Special_10_.E2.80.9 4_.22MythBusters_Holiday_Special.22

[bethene]

Lyssa-Anne- I get a tree the day after Thanksgiving every year - I don't have a big problem with needles falling. A garden guy in our local paper said that the only tried and true method in his experience was very hot water right after you put the tree up. Make sure that you cut a mimimun of 1 inch and put as hot water as you can in, then regular water will do. The hot will keep the tree open to suck up water longer, I don't know about the other ways but that works the best for me.

[bethene]

I meant cut a minimum of one inch off the bottom of it wasn't clear

[Sickie Ickie]

sounds similer to flowers. Cut the bottoms of those at an angle to make them last longer.

[lyssa-anne]

Interesting article Mummy thanks for that- I don't think I will try the one with the bleach after reading that.

Bethene- Think I will try the hot water (never used hot water) do you still add some sugar?

[Mummy deer-est]

your welcome!
I'm going to try the hot water too..

[Sickie Ickie]

Interesting article Mummy thanks for that- I don't think I will try the one with the bleach after reading that.

Bethene- Think I will try the hot water (never used hot water) do you still add some sugar?

If it's an authentic Christmas tree, shouldn't you add cocoa? :p

[bethene]

Lyssa-anne, no I don't use sugar- Just the hot water- I don't know if it works, I suppose if it was desolved good, it couldn;t hurt anything, and maybe help. I put my tree up Friday, and is still sucking up the water food, as long as you have a good cut, use hot water, and DON"T let it dry out, it should be good. The first 24-36 hours I check it all the time, it is amazing how much water it can drink!