MSU's Dr. Bob offers TLC tips for Christmas trees and poinsettias 

12/4/01

BOZEMAN--Visiting the Christmas tree lot or caring for a poinsettia can be a difficult holiday experience. Which tree is in the best condition? Which type of tree should I pick? How do I water my poinsettia?

Bob Gough (also known as Dr. Bob), a horticulture specialist with the MSU Extension Service, has some pointers. Gough says that sub-alpine fir, Douglas fir and scotch pine make some of the best Christmas trees. Even though spruce looks nice, it has sharp needles that drop quickly.

To check a tree's freshness, grasp a branch several inches from its tip and run your hand down to the tip. If many needles fall off, it was cut a long time ago. Cut trees also lose their color and fragrance, so check both.

When harvesting your tree from the field, be sure it is symmetrical with no holes or missing branches. View the specimen from several feet away. For the greatest longevity, avoid putting your tree up in the house until a week before Christmas. The warm temperatures and dry air inside homes are not healthy for trees. There are some things you can do to make its stay happier, though.

"Cut a couple of inches off the butt of the tree before you put it into the stand. This will remove the plugged vessels at the old cut and allow the tree to take up water more easily," says Gough.

"Place the tree into a stand large enough to hold a least a gallon of liquid. Check the reservoir every few hours for the first day, then every day after that." The reservoir can be filled with plain water, sugar water or clear soft drinks like 7-Up or Sprite. The sugar provides carbohydrates for metabolism, and the preservatives in the soft drinks help control bacteria growth.

Poinsettias

As for poinsettias, start with a healthy, stocky, plant that is free from disease and nutrient deficiency. The leaves should be solid green and not mottled with bronze or yellow. Brush your hand across the plant's foliage and note if tiny white flies drop off. If they do, don't take the plant home with you.

To prolong its display, keep the plant in a cool area of the house. Watering is very important because homes, especially in Montana, can be dry with low humidity.

Although the plants can be kept for the next year, they are grown as "throw-away" items, so don't feel bad if you do just that. Please note that contrary to popular belief, poinsettias are not poisonous!

Photo by Linda Best, MSU Communications Services.

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For yard and garden publications -- many free, others low-cost -- contact your local MSU Extension office. Or, send for a free Extension publications catalog from MSU Extension Publications, P.O. Box 172040, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717. Send questions or comments to Suzi Taylor, MSU Communications Services, Bozeman, MT 59717 or email Gough and Taylor at taylor@montana.edu.

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