How long does a real tree last?

9 replies

crayfish · 02/12/2016 13:04

Boring question I know, but I haven't had a tree at all for seven years, because my cats are monsters and wreck them, but now we have moved into a house where one is a possibility so we are going to give it a go. I've never ever had a real one and am quite excited about the prospect but don't know whether, if I got one this weekend, it would last until christmas?

can anyone advise?

OP posts:

idril · 02/12/2016 13:21

It really depends in my experience. We had one that lasted about 6 weeks one year but that was in ideal conditions. If it's near a radiator or in a warm room, it's much less. We have underfloor heating and have had a nightmare with our tree the last few years - started dropping after a week. We're going back to a fake one this year much to my husband's disgust!

If it's an average temperature room and not near a radiator, I would say that it would last till Christmas though unless you are very unlucky.

Original poster

crayfish · 02/12/2016 13:35

Hmm, it will be going near a radiator so maybe we had better wait a bit longer to get it. I would happily have a fake one, I'm just excited to be getting a tree at all, but DH insists that fake ones arn'e 'proper' christmas trees...

OP posts:

Totalshambles · 02/12/2016 16:29

Ours never do well. A couple of weeks is the maximum and we follow all the advice with fresh cut and water. We do have our home quit warm so I think this must be the problem. We'll do ours the following weekend and just hope it lasts ok.

thegirlinthecar · 02/12/2016 16:33

Dd's first Christmas ... it lasted about 2 weeks and we had to get a new one . We always get one that doesn't drop needles now . I failed Christmas that year

FaithAscending · 02/12/2016 16:34

We a recycling scheme. Essentially you hire a tree in a pot. You water it and return it at New Year and then the next year you get 40% off your tree of choice!

LooksBetterWithAFilter · 02/12/2016 16:40

Ours is bought at the beginning of December and lasts. It's always fairly near the radiator too. Make sure you chop a bit off the bottom when you get it home when chopped they seal quickly so if you chop the bottom off it will take water better. Make sure it's in a stand that has room for water as well. At first we remember to water every day but begin forgetting after a week or so and it gets watered every few days. By new year when we take it down the top foot is starting to dry out but the rest is still fine.

AllTheBabies · 02/12/2016 16:40

Every one I've ever had has started to droop after a few weeks. I love real trees but I can't stand the constant hoovering and straightening of the thing when it gets pulled by around by the dc. We have a fake one now

I've seen a few ones up already in houses near by. Surely they will look rubbish by Christmas

Lexilooo · 02/12/2016 16:45

Our current one is a year old, but previously we had one that lasted 6 years. It was still alive and not shedding but had started to look a bit straggly so we replaced it.

Buy one in a pot and they last ages and don't drop many needles at all. It is also by far the least wasteful and most sustainable way of having a tree ☺
They come in to the house in mid December and go in the garden after twelfth night until next near.

They need a big pot, plenty of water and to be in a cooler part of the room.

CakeNinja · 02/12/2016 21:13

We are going to get ours next Sunday (10th?) and it will come down on the 27th and still be absolutely fine. We spend quite a bit on a variety which doesn't drop after one year we ended up with a stick in a pot!
Yy to cutting the bottom just before you put it in the pot. Ours goes on the heated kitchen floor and it's quite warm in there but somehow the tree is just fine.

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