Real or fake Christmas trees ? Lighthearted

[genuinequestion21]

I've not been a very Christmassy person my whole life. So I never decorated for Christmas. So it's all a bit new for me.

I'm a mum now and I got my first Christmas tree last year and went all out for my DD.

I got a fake one last year as it needed to fit into a specific space.

Anyhow, I'm in a bigger house this year and can get whichever tree.

Now the debate has started- fake or real ? What are the benefits of each ?

My in laws are super anti real, whereas my family is super anti fake. I want to get a real one, my husband wants a fake.

I bought a real one today. Any tips on how to maintain it etc ?

This seems a contentious subject. My in laws will definitely comment on it..

I said to my husband, worse comes to worse, we put in in the garden with just lights.

I need to find a way to make it last until Christmas at that cost. Perhaps it just needs to stay outside.

Way back in the 1980s i thought kids are getting the right age to appreciate a real tree never again it shed needles everywhere didnt even smell that christmassy and i was hoovering needles out of the sculptured carpet (was the in carpet then) for weeks afterword fake all the way for me since this is mine this year this is its third outing

I always go fake tree due to my hay fever, but if you like the real tree then enjoy it. If the ILs comment just smile and change the subject.

Real tree

Because I prefer how they look and smell and because I prefer to avoid buying a massive piece of plastic.

Yours should be ok till the 23rd OP if you keep the base topped up with water and if you don’t have it too near a radiator.

Our fake tree looks very real and if you use pine melts you get the scent too. But to take the tone of some on here not everyone can afford Blossom Hill or has high ceilings. ;)

Real.

We got a fake one last year because I wanted to go in early and didn’t expect a real tree to last. It actually looked great, although the cat had it over a couple of times and we ended up having to put it in the stand we use for real trees to weigh it down. DP is away most of December so we will re-use the fake one and put it up before he goes.

A few years back someone sent me one of the “tiny trees” from Bloom and Wild. We planted it in the garden afterwards and it’s really grown. I wish we’d planted it in a big pot so it could come in in a few more years!

We used to always have real trees every year until DS(9) was born. We got our tree that year and realised very quickly that he was allergic to the tree - so it was given to a family member and we got a horrible fake one the week of Christmas.
I got a much better one for the next Christmas and every one since and the kids have their own tree to decorate into the bargain.

We always had a real one but bought a lovely artificial one a couple of years ago in the sale after Christmas.

We always buy ours at this time of year. Cut a bit off the bottom and leave it outside in a bucket of water for a week before bringing it inside. Make sure your stand has a water reservoir so you can keep it watered. Lasts absolutely fine until the twelfth night

@Tal45

If your house is big enough and you can afford it then why not get one of each? That's what we do.

We mostly manage with the fake tree but every so often I splurge and buy a real one. Our living room has a bay window with the radiator on the other side of the room, so using a holder which has a water reservoir, it lasts very well.

If you don't have enough lights and decorations this year, maybe you can add to your collection each year until you have sufficient for both? Although only if you want to do this, not to say you should to stop your respective families being horrified at your choices.

We had a very artificial tree when we were kids, a white and silver sparkly one. I still love this look, it's very Christmassy to me, but I also really love the look of a real tree as well. Best of both worlds to have two...

Real. They look lovely, fill the house with a gorgeous piney smell and our council takes them for recycling. I'd never have a fake tree.

@Singinghollybob

Real one for us. We pick and cut down our tree so it's not true that every real tree is shipped over *@DedalusBloom*. We water it often and keep it way from the radiator and they don't drop that many needles and still looks good by the time we take it down and compost it. The farm we get it from plants more trees than it cuts down. We don't get it this early though, maybe around the 8th December

No of course not every Christmas tree is shipped from abroad, but the vast majority to all commercial supermarkets and garden centres in the UK are, as well as the majority of city based wholesalers, and that is a phenomenal amount. Most people don't live near a farm to be able to make a considered choice like you do - and it's great that you can. I'm just pointing out even real trees have an environmental impact.

I took over my parents' fake "small tree" when I bought my house. The tree is now over 45 years' old and still going strong. I honestly don't think that's worse for the environment than cutting down 45+ trees over the years just for one house which then die.

It also reminds me of my parents and Christmas when I was growing up (and they love to see it too when they visit) so it's a double plus for me

I'd rather go without a tree than have a fake one.

This. Hell will freeze over before a fake one comes in my house.

Fake! Hate the idea of wasting a beautiful tree

We get fake because as much as I adore the look of the real ones I get severe migraines from the smell of them (even the ones that say the don’t have a smell etc)

Real trees, always. I love the smell of them. We don't buy ours until the second weekend of Advent though.

Always had a fake tree. Bought a real one for the garden and I’m allergic to it.

We’ve had the same tree since we got married and it’s still going strong 17 years later. Haven’t found another one I like as much. They all seem so skinny now.

My daughter's teacher has both.. she puts her fake tree up until closer to Christmas. We accidentally found out where she lives 2 years ago and they have a real tree in the front garden. Literally dig it up, use it then put it back ready for the next year!

I am personally using a tree i got from Tesco in the boxing day sale 6 years ago for £3. I would love real but I wouldn't trust myself with watering it enough. It is a billy basic 6ft tree but suits us perfectly. Every year I tell myself I'll buy a nice fancy one in the sales but I never do.

@Shade17

I'd rather go without a tree than have a fake one.

This. Hell will freeze over before a fake one comes in my house.

It's an artificial tree, not a plague rat.

We have to have a fake one because real ones make my allergies flare up I’m not a huge fan of the one we have atm but it fits nicely into the very small amount of space we have. Will probably invest in a nicer one when we eventually have a bigger home.

We used to get real ones, but then felt sorry for them being cut down and disposed of so quickly. I know they're a sort of crop, but it didn't sit right with us. We haven't really got room for a tree anyway, so don't bother. We just put some pretty lights up.

We've had both over the years. I really wanted (and got) a new fake one this year even though DH wanted real. We are planning to change our downstairs next year and be less cluttered so I think we will have both then.

Fake. I like symmetry.