A potted Christmas tree is a festive and eco-friendly way to celebrate the season. Follow these steps to ensure your tree stays healthy and beautiful during and after the holidays.
Christmas Tree Varieties
The Radiata Pine, or Monterey Pine (Pinus radiata), is the most popular Christmas tree variety in Australia. Known for its long, soft needles and the classic Christmas pine scent, it makes for a beautiful and aromatic choice. Radiata Pines can thrive in the ground or in pots. If you choose to keep it in a pot, be sure to repot every 1-2 years, and monitor watering carefully, as these trees dry out quickly.
How to Transport Your Potted Christmas Tree
- Protect Your Car: Use a tarp to protect the interior of your car from mess and sticky sap.
- Shield the Tree: If transporting the tree in the back of a ute or open tray truck, wrap it in a sheet or tarpaulin, lay it flat, and secure it with straps or rope. Never transport the tree upright without wrapping, as this could cause damage and dry out the tree.
- Head Straight Home: Minimize travel time, especially on warm days, as heat and moisture stress can harm the tree. Ask about delivery options if your vehicle isn’t large enough.
When You Bring Your Potted Tree Home
- Unload Quickly: Get the tree out of the vehicle as soon as possible to reduce stress.
- Water & Place in a Cool Spot: Water thoroughly, using 0.5–1 times the volume of the pot (e.g., for a 25L pot, give 12–25L of water). Place the tree in a spot with at least 4 hours of direct sunlight, away from heat sources like brick walls or metal fences. Keep the potting mix moderately moist until you’re ready to bring it indoors.
When to Bring the Tree Indoors
Potted Christmas trees can survive indoors for about 7 days, up to 10 days at most. Bring the tree inside only a couple of days before Christmas. Before bringing it indoors, give it a thorough watering.
How to Care for Your Potted Tree Indoors
- Best Position: Keep the tree away from heaters, air conditioners, TVs, or draughty spots. Place it near a window with direct or filtered sunlight. For fire safety, keep it away from electricals and power points. Always unplug Christmas tree lights when unattended.
- Pot Setup: Use a saucer to catch drips and mess. Wrap the pot in decorative fabric like hessian, or place the plastic pot into a decorative pot. If the decorative pot has a hole, keep the saucer underneath.
- Watering: Check the potting mix daily and water lightly (about 0.5–1 litre as needed). Always unplug tree lights while watering.
- Feeding: Feed it with a balanced indoor plant fertilizer. This will support its growth and keep it looking vibrant. Since the potting mix will likely stay moist indoors, avoid over-fertilizing and consider adding a light layer of mulch to retain moisture and protect the roots.
Caring for the Tree After the Holidays
- Move Outside Promptly: Once you notice signs of deterioration, move the tree outside. Place it in morning sun initially to help it adjust to the outdoors
- Gradual Sunlight Exposure: After a week in the morning sun, you can gradually increase the amount of direct sunlight the tree receives. Most conifers grow well in full sun or partial shade.
Conclusion
Taking care of your potted Christmas tree is simple and can help it last beyond the holidays. With the right watering, positioning, and a gradual return to the outdoors, your tree will stay healthy and continue to grow. It’s a great way to enjoy a tree that you can bring out year after year.
