Christmas Tree Water (Recipe for Longevity)
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My dad uses this Christmas tree water recipe and claims that it makes a difference in the longevity of fresh trees.
I was reminded this week how much I love a REAL Christmas tree.
Imperfect? Yep.
Messy? Yep.
A hassle? You bet.
Worth it? Yes.
The scent of a cedar tree in your house is unlike any other. The smell hits you every time you enter the room. It brought back so many sweet memories to be around it this weekend!
When I was growing up, we usually waited to cut down a real tree until early to mid-December so it wouldn’t get too dried out by Christmas. This year however, my dad was eager to get the Christmas season started so he and my brother went out the day after Thanksgiving to scout out some potential trees for this year.
They came back with a HUGE tree. It’s amazing how they seem to look so much bigger in our house than out in the woods.
After following some of these Christmas tree tips to get it all set up, my dad asked me to mix up some Christmas tree water.
What? I didn’t even know there was such a thing. Many sources say, if you add certain ingredients to the water that you give your Christmas tree, it will last longer and keep its fresh scent.
My dad has used the formula below on his past Christmas trees and claims that it does make a difference in the longevity of the tree. I guess the only way to REALLY know is to have two identical trees and use it on one but not the other. However, no one is going to do that so we will just have to trust people who have used it!
Recipe for Christmas Tree Water
- 5 quarts of water
- 2 ounces regular Clorox bleach – Kills bacteria that would inhibit the tree’s ability to take up water.
- 8 ounces light corn syrup (clear) – The sugar feeds the tree glucose, an essential part of a plant’s metabolism.
- 2 pinches of Epsom Salt – Magnesium sulfates make the needles green.
Mix all of the above and store in a cool place. It is better to error on the side of being too diluted. Osmosis happens from weak to strong, and if the mixture is too strong, it will actually drain your tree instead of feeding it.
Important: Never let the water level dip below the bottom of the tree trunk!
If you don’t want to mess with making your own Christmas Tree Water, you could just buy this Miracle-Gro for Christmas Trees. Looks like it has pretty good reviews, but making your own recipe will be cheaper in the long run.
Looking for more Christmas ideas? Check these out…
- Holiday Gift Guides – Ideas for every age!
- 30 Easy Christmas Dinner Ideas – Easy yet impressive dishes for your holiday meal, includes apps, sides, salads, mains, and desserts.
- 15 Books that Share the Real Meaning of Christmas – We own these ourselves and love them.
- 31 Easy Christmas Crafts for Kids – Simple crafts with supplies you likely have on hand.
25+ Make Ahead Christmas Breakfasts
We have rounded up the BEST ideas for Christmas breakfast or brunch on the internet. The good news is that all of these can be prepped ahead of time so you can relax and enjoy the morning.
All the experts agree, from University Ag Depts to the National Christmas Tree Assn this is NOT helpful. What someone “feels like” “seems to” is not science.
“MSU report, a typical 7-foot-tall tree with a 3-inch trunk diameter might drink up to 3 quarts of water per day. Plain tap water is all you need — the report cautions against adding sugar, aspirin, bleach, floral preservatives or other additives to the water.” and “Some of those additives, like bleach, can actually cause damage to trees and plants. Chlorine bleach is corrosive when undiluted, and even bleach mixed with equal amounts of water can burn the foliage of nearby plants within 10 minutes” and “The association recommends that Christmas tree owners place their trees in water as soon as possible and replenish the water daily. Trees should also be kept away from heat sources, like fireplaces, heaters, heat vents and direct sunlight, to keep them from drying out too quickly.”
It’s not magic, just biology
Read more at: https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article256765762.html#storylink=cpy
Per all the gardening sites they say just plain water is all you need. You definitely not add bleach to the water, that will kill the tree faster
How much do we use of the solution?
However much you need to fill your tree base. We refill every few days.
How much and how often do you use this on your tree?
How much do you use and how often every day once a week
How did it turn out? How long does it last? I want to get a tree tomorrow!
I can’t give a certain time on how long the tree will last because so much of that is contingent on other factors (type of tree, when it was cut down, etc.) but the solution DID seem to help.
So you haven’t tried this yet? Can you post what your results were since I’m assuming you looked it up to actually use it on the new tree you got???? Thanks
I just updated the post but in short, my dad (who used the solution) said he plans on using it again this year and thinks it made a difference. Good luck with your tree!
did you mean 2 oz. clorox as in clorox bleach?
That’s what the recipe said. Crazy huh? I think it’s meant to serve as a disinfectant (prevent algae, etc.)
what about peroxide
I don’t know about peroxide. This is the recipe that Polly’s dad uses and swears by.