Christmas tree care: Which one lasts the longest?
Xmas tree
With the right selection of the fir tree Christmas trees last longer.
Many people want a Christmas tree that lasts a long time and loses few needles. If it also fills the living room with its wonderful fir scent, Christmas will be all the more beautiful. However, to ensure that the Christmas tree does not wear out beforehand, here are tips on the selection and proper care of the Christmas tree.
Christmas is just around the corner and the first
Christmas trees are offered. But which tree should it be? In addition to the right care, it also depends on the type of tree, how long the tree lasts or how much it needles. Also with the smell the tree kind plays a role. Unfortunately, today only the fewest Christmas trees smell as intensively as it was once.
The Christmas tree types and their advantages and disadvantages
Nordmann firs last the longest next to the Nobilistanne.
Nordmann fir: long lasting, but not fragrant
Nordmann firs are very popular as Christmas trees and are the most sold. The tree grows very evenly, has a high needle strength and even lasts up to four weeks under good conditions. Its soft needles shine deep green and do not sting. However, it has almost no fragrance. Because of its beautiful appearance and long shelf life, Nordmann firs are more expensive.
Nobilistanne: Lasts the longest and offers an intense fragrance experience.
Often called the Noble Fir, it lasts even longer than the Nordmann Fir. Its blue-green needles are soft and have a very intense orange scent. The branches are arranged in tiers. Noble firs grow somewhat irregularly, but can even support heavy tree ornaments. The trees can last over four weeks and are therefore popular as cut greenery for Advent wreaths.
Blue spruce: The blue ornament smells wonderfully like a fir forest!
The blue spruce is also known as the blue spruce. Its needles have a bluish sheen. The blue coloring varies depending on the variety and also depends on the weather. Blue spruces bring a wonderful forest scent to Christmas rooms. It is particularly suitable for smaller rooms. The disadvantage for large living rooms with high ceilings: trees that are over two meters tall become increasingly thinner and bare, and no longer look as beautiful as the smaller specimens.
The blue spruce is one of the classics among Christmas trees and can also carry heavy tree decorations. It is also a lot less expensive and is in the middle of the pack in terms of durability. However, the beautiful blue and fragrant needles sting quite a bit. This earned it the name stone fir. With small children or pets, the hard and stinging needles are problematic. Gloves should be used when transporting. Decorating is also not pleasant with the sharp needles.
Spruce: cheapest, but a world champion in needling
Spruce costs the least among all the Christmas trees and, unfortunately, has some disadvantages. For spruce has the shortest shelf life and needles already a few days after arrival in the warm rooms. In addition, it is not fragrant. On the other hand, it stings less than the blue spruce. Spruces are more suitable as Christmas trees for outdoor use. For the living room, it is better to cut them shortly before the holiday, so that they are fresh at Christmas. However, since spruces grow very large, they are perfect for public places and look wonderful there as large Christmas trees.
Douglas’s fir: durable with an intense citrus scent
The thin needles of the Douglas fir are soft and have a citrus scent. It lasts about as long as blue spruce, but is slightly less expensive. Light tree decorations are suitable for the Douglas fir.
Pine: For those who like the special.
The pine tree is rarely seen as a Christmas tree in this country. Probably because they are not so easy to decorate. Heavy Christmas tree decorations can hardly be attached to the pine branches. However, for those who love natural and light tree decorations, the pine would be a beautiful and special Christmas tree. In addition, the pine has a pleasant scent of the forest. Pine trees have a good durability and do not shed their needles for a long time, even in dry and warm indoor air. With its fragrance, fancy growth and needles, the pine provides a great highlight at the feast.
When should I buy the Christmas tree?
The sale of Christmas trees begins in early December. However, if some trees go limp before Christmas, this is often due to incorrect storage. Often, the tree species also plays a role. While, for example, Nordmann firs last a very long time, spruces, for example, should better be cut and purchased a few days before the holiday. The longer the tree stands in the warm living room, the sooner it starts to needle.
How can I tell if the tree is fresh?
Fresh conifers are not always offered. For example, some have been transported a long way. Or they were not sold right away and have been lying around for a while. A look at the cut reveals whether the tree is fresh. If the cut is light, it is a fresh tree. However, if it is dark and gray, the tree has been lying for a long time. Prickly needles, which should be soft on some types of trees, are also an indication that the tree is no longer fresh.
Storing the Christmas tree properly
Until the tree is placed in the living room, it must be stored in a cool place. The warmer it is, the faster the tree will age. Good places to store it include the garage, basement or outside. To keep the tree hydrated, a thin slice should be cut from the base of the trunk and the tree placed in a bucket of water. If the Christmas tree is stored in a cool place, it will last much longer than in heated rooms with dry heating air.
Do not place the Christmas tree by the heating
The heating air dries out the tree. Therefore, it should not be placed directly next to the heater or other sources of heat. The Christmas tree stand should be regularly filled with fresh water to provide the tree with sufficient moisture. Also, wetting its branches with water helps to extend its shelf life.
