Many strive to maintain the beauty and freshness of the Christmas tree, but not everyone succeeds. Today, with the help of an expert, we identified common mistakes that hinder this important task. Avoid them, and your tree will last long — not until May, of course, but still.
Answers are provided by agronomist Pyotr Sinkovsky:
— The first and most serious mistake is related to bringing this important New Year attribute into the house. Trees that go from the frosty air straight into a warm room will not last long. This happens due to the stress caused by the sharp temperature change. Therefore, the freshly acquired tree needs to be prepared in advance. The simplest way is to leave it on the balcony for a day, then for a day in the hallway, and only after that set it up in the living space.
Next, everything depends on the installation method. The second common mistake that shortens the lifespan of the tree is using regular stands or supports. The long life of the Christmas beauty is only possible if it is placed in a container with a moist substrate. A large bucket with a mixture of sawdust and roasted coarse sand is ideal. Simply immersing the trunk in water will not yield the desired result, while the substrate will help retain moisture and prevent intense drying and needle drop.
Here, one can make a third mistake. Before placing the tree in the container with the substrate, it is necessary to cut off 2-3 centimeters from the bottom of the trunk. If this is not done, the entire beneficial effect will be nullified.
The fourth common mistake is choosing the wrong location. Remember: the tree should not be placed near heat sources or in a draft. Both of these factors will quickly turn it into a dismal conglomerate of bare branches.
Mistake #5 concerns decorations. The tree can handle LED garlands quite well; however, incandescent bulb garlands significantly shorten the time it retains its pristine appearance: the excess heat they generate is harmful to the tree's appearance.
