The holiday season can be hectic as well as happy. One of the easiest ways to bring some calm into the fray is to have a living Christmas tree on hand, ready to decorate, and eliminate the worry about having to water a cut tree frequently to prevent it from drying out and becoming tinder for an unplanned holiday bonfire. A tree freshly cut from its stump will take up water continuously, and its water container, unless the size of a bucket, will have to be refilled several times a day for the first week or so.
A dry tree is a fire waiting to happen
Cut evergreen trees that have not been kept supplied with water can become fully involved in less than three seconds if they catch fire from decorative lights, heat registers, candles, or other sources of combustion. Flashover, in which the entire room is engulfed with flame and toxic fumes, can occur in 40 seconds, according to FEMA.
A fresh, green tree is a safer tree
“Wet trees tell a different story,” says the National Fire Protection Association. Safety engineers from the National Institute of Standards and Technology attempted to ignite a fresh green tree using matches and an electric current but could not do so until they used a propane torch directly on the tree. Few of us use propane torches in our holiday decoration scheme, so, when it comes to a tree, Go Green! A potted Norfolk Island Pine stays fresh and green the entire holiday season and beyond.
The care and feeding of a Norfolk Island Pine
A native of the South Pacific, Araucaria heterophylla, aka Norfolk Island Pine, likes bright, indirect light but no direct hot sun. It likes cool temperatures and damp soil, except in winter, when the soil can go dry between waterings. If decorated with lights for the holiday, however, The Garden Helper suggests keeping the soil damp at all times, just in case the lights dry the needles a bit.
This indoor tree likes to have a couple of food sticks every other month or at least on the first day of each new season — a good way to remember to feed the plants who live at your house.
A living tree is a perennial pleasure
Norfolk Island Pines start small and grow slowly, but each year there’ll be room for a few more miniature ornaments. The tree in its pot can be placed on a small table or in a houseplant stand to give it enough height, and a scarf or small tablecloth can be wrapped around the base for an elegant look. A decorative gift-wrap cord or light-weight garland can be strung along the tree’s broad, flexible branches. Tiny twinkle lights are lovely along the trunk and branches and produce so little heat that there’s little chance of drying the branches and needles, but don’t assume that they won’t. Don’t ever leave tree lights on overnight or when leaving the house.
Keep the Christmas spirit all year
Having a living Christmas tree that stays at home year-round is a gentle reminder that seasons change and the holidays will come around once again. Little green tufts at the top of a trunk will stretch upward in the summer warmth and (indirect) light to become the next perch for a favorite star or angel. There’s a little smidgeon of peace in knowing that the family Christmas tree will be quick and easy to decorate and is ready to play center stage in the home pageant of holiday tradition and cheer.
No space in your place for a permanent Norfolk Island Pine? Rent!
The newest environment friendly movement for people who want a live tree for the season but can't keep it year around calls for renting, or "adopting," a Christmas tree. The Living Christmas Tree Company will deliver a potted evergreen to your door for you to decorate and enjoy through the holidays and then retrieve it. The tree will be cared for through the year at the tree nursery and will be ready to return to your house — Mother Nature permitting — next Christmas. Some families have had the same tree for a number of years. The movement started in California, but it is sure to grow.
Sources:
- “How to grow and care for Norfolk Island Pines,” The Garden Helper, 3 November 2011. Downloaded 15 November 2011.
- “Water That Tree!”, National Fire Protection Association Home Fires Involving Christmas Trees and Holiday Lights, 2003-2007 - Christmas Tree Fires, U.S. Fire Administration, 28 October 2010. Downloaded 15 November 2011.
Denise Larson - Denise Larson is an author, editor, and freelance writer, mostly of history and genealogy, and a hobbyist in gardening and healthy ...
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