Help! Problems w/ my Real Tree

mvp12

Our christmas tree is decorated already and it stopped absorbing water. The water is also starting to smell pretty bad. Any tips on what I can do? I tried googling and didn't find any thing. We are having 60 people over tomorrow and I won;t have time to go get a new one and decorate it. We do have 2 other trees, but I would like to find a solution instead of taking the tree down.

T!ckledP!nk

"After time, the cut stump gets air in the plant tissue, which lessens a tree's water absorption capacity. A fresh cut will reopen the pores that take up water.

(Q)How much should be cut off?
(A) Only one half inch is necessary, not one or two inches as is sometimes instructed. (Q)Will tapering the base or cutting it at an angle increase the area that takes up water?
(A)No. This reduces the surface area of plant tissue that absorbs water molecules. Once the water level falls below the exposed surface on a tapered trunk, drying will begin. An angle or "V" cut will require more water depth to cover the cut surface. It also makes the tree more difficult to hold upright in a stand and less stable. "

zelda25

I don't think you need to replace your tree; ours takes up very little water, but it's still in good shape.  Our tree last year stopped taking water well before Christmas, but was still in great shape when we took it down after New Years.

I've never encountered foul-smelling water--that's odd.  I would suggest siphoning or absorbing the water out of the container and replacing it with fresh.

CDMay2006

Clean the base really well (wash with hot soapy water) to kill the gunk that's growing in there and as pps said, cut the bottom inch off and reset the tree in the clean base.  You should be a-ok, at least till after the party.  When did you get the tree?

Butter Cookie

A potted tree would last longer, absorb water better, and could be planted. If you don't want to deal with the hassle there are companies that will let you rent a potted tree. They will deliver and pick it up for you.

Junebug060609

The best alternative for your current problem would be to trim the bottom half inch or so off the tree.  If that isn't possible, maybe make some slit cuts in the trunk and keep the water at that level.