Potted Christmas tree help

[HollidayRanger]

We’ve had a gorgeous potted Christmas tree for 2 years and it’s grown from 3 foot to around 5.5 foot and has been healthy and happy.

We repotted him a few months ago as it had outgrown its pot. All good.

Yesterday lots of its needles started going brown and dropping off. Today it’s about 1/2 brown. The top half has new growth but it’s worrying it’s gone so brown so quickly.

Anyone got any idea on what might be going on? It’s been in the same position since we got it but we moved it to the shade today.

Thank you

Ignore the him. My husband has grown rather fond of it and has given it a name

Many firs and spruces do lose their oldest needles from time to time, but usually in the autumn so I think this is a stress response. Good call, putting it in the shade. I don't know what the weather is like where you are, but we have no rain at all forecast for the next fortnight at least, so if your weather is the same, you will need to water it regularly.

Thank you, it’s been very hot this week. 25’ today. I’ll make sure it’s well watered until we get back to usual temps

It will have got dry at some point

Will keeping it watered save it? The top looks like it has new bits growing out of it.

They generally don't regrown from old wood so the younger parts may sprout but don't expect the brown areas to grow new needles

Thanks. He’s looking pretty sorry for himself today from his new position in the shade

Is that a terracotta pot? They dry out very fast because they are porous. When you are watering it, make sure you thoroughly wet the outside of the pot as well.

That’s not a happy tree 😞 I was going to agree with PP that they do drop some needles but that looks like it’s dying off in places. I know my tree hates the sun, so it’s now in partial shade.

It's so weird, he was literally the picture of health a week ago and we didnt do anything different than the past couple of years

It’s a plastic one but we’ve moved him out of it and planted him this evening. I think it’s going to be too late but we thought worth a try. The roots were pretty wet so not sure if we should water it to settle it in or just leave for a day or two now.

It’s funny how attached you can get to a bloody tree.

He’s looking a tiny bit happier planted in the ground. Will be a miracle if he doesn’t go to the big mulcher in the sky but I’ll keep you posted in case anyone is interested

Fingers crossed! Sending happy xmas vibes it’s way 🌲

I’ve got two small Christmas trees in pots, but have concluded that they’re never truly happy in a pot. Mine will have to stay where they are, as there’s no room for them in the border, but I’m sure you’ve done the right thing by planting yours in the ground.