Perhaps a stupid question, but does a Christmas tree need water?

[MmeHereWeGoAWassailLindt]

We had a stand with a water reservoir when we were in Germany but I cannot find it since we moved. The tree that I have just bought has a wee stand on it (made out of wood) but no place to put water.

Should I take the wooden stand off (don't know if I can manage this alone and DH is away till Thursday) and replace it with the water reservior thingy, assuming I can find it?

Will it last till after Xmas without water?

It won't drop anywhere near as much if you water it.

According to the man who grew our xmas tree the perfect drink for a tree is 50% water, 50% lemonade, so that's what ours get and they hadrly drop at all.

We don't usually bother because the ones we used to get had a bit of wood on the bottom to make them stand up, but they used to shed like a bastard. This year we have no wooden bit and the tree is in a bucket of water, so will see how we get on

(No lemonade in the house - should I try squash?)

Doh - forgot to say - they did last until Christmas (and beyond) fine without water, just got a bit balding towards the end.

Just put some sugar in a jug of water and mix up to dissolve. We've got one of those water resevoir stand things and the tree (6ft) is drinking about a pint of water a day!

Are you talking roots or no roots?

real xmas tree which arent watered are a fire hazard. please water your tree's

No roots.

I don't know if we get lemonade here but Sprite should do the same job, no? Or would sugared water be ok? That is all lemonade is anyway.

OMG, Misdee that clip is scary.

Off to find big pot

sprite works. or 7-up. (but not diet stuff)

You can use pea shingle or gravel in a bucket or tub as ballast to support a real tree. Top up with water. Make sure you saw a bit off the end of the trunk to open the water channels so it can drink.

We used to dry the gravel out and store it in the shed for the next Christmas!

Christmas trees are still alive for some time after cutting, as they 'heal' the cut surface preventing moisure loss. Those wooden blocks are awful. After all, you wouldn't put a bouquet of flowers in a vase with no water, would you?

I did it!

Found the reservior stand in the garage (who put it there instead of with the Xmas decorations?).

Used a hammer to take the wooden stand off. There are holes in the bottom of the tree from the stand so it should draw water fine. I don't have sprite or lemonade but will give it water till I get some.

Thanks all, especially Misdee for scaring the shit out of me with that clip. That was the kick I needed to get it sorted instead of wimping out waiting for DH to come home.