Another question about how long a live holiday decoration will last...
My husband and I are buying our first Christmas tree this year, and it will be a fresh one. We live in southern California and lately it has actually felt like winter temperatures, 60s and what not.
When should I plan on buying the tree? I was thinking of getting it on December 9th, which is a Thursday and it just fits into my schedule the best. Is that too early? Or can I get it the weekend before? I just don't want the tree to die or be super dried out by Christmas day!
We always get a tree later in December. This year probably the 16th since we have a party on the 18th at our house. How long do you want to keep it up? I like to try to keep it till Little Christmas - Jan 6.
I love real trees, but it just wasn't a good idea in my apartment - what a pain! So I bought an artificial tree. I think it looks great, especially once all my ornaments are on it.
This year since we have the house, I have thought a lot about getting a real one but I think I am going to stick with the artificial. It is so much work to put it up and take it down that I like it to be up for awhile - usually right after Thanksgiving through epiphany. I saw trees at a roadside stand while I was out today - already cut and waiting - that can't be good. I can't imagine them not being dried out by Christmas.
It hurts my heart to think about killing a tree. That's why we use artificial trees. These days there are many artificial trees that look really good. That's what I recommend, even though you didn't ask for it.
Hmmm, I never thought about how long I want to keep it up after Christmas. I guess if it lasted until New Years that would be fine. So if we got it, say on the 11th, that would be 3 weeks until New Years. If we needed to get rid of it the day or so after Christmas, that would be fine.
So is 3 weeks too long to expect it to look decent? How often do you water them?
It hurts my heart to think about killing a tree. That's why we use artificial trees. These days there are many artificial trees that look really good. That's what I recommend, even though you didn't ask for it.
Hehe. Well thank you for your opinion, I respect it!
Don't they specifically grow Christmas trees to be cut down and just replant them for the next year? Christmas tree farms? So it's not like I'm buying a tree and helping to deforest an area of the world, right? Now I feel bad!
Cut the bottom so it is fresh - like stems of flowers. Check the water every day. They can really soak up a lot of water. We are also in So. Cal and get it in mid Dec. and leave up until New Year's but we cut it down fresh.
That's why we use artificial trees. These days there are many artificial trees that look really good. That's what I recommend, even though you didn't ask for it. 
