Christmas tree experts advise against using boiling water

Yule be sorry if you try this so-called Christmas tree hack. Experts explain why pouring boiling water into a Christmas tree stand will quickly land you on the naughty list this holiday season. Christmas tree seller Mark Rofe presumes that people do this to melt the layer of sap that forms where the tree has

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Yule be sorry if you try this so-called Christmas tree hack.

Experts explain why pouring boiling water into a Christmas tree stand will quickly land you on the naughty list this holiday season.

Christmas tree seller Mark Rofe presumes that people do this to melt the layer of sap that forms where the tree has been cut, so the Tannenbaum can absorb more water once it’s in its stand.

“A better alternative would be to use a handsaw to take about 3 [centimeters] off of the base of the tree,” Rofe told Ideal Home last week. “The few centimeters you’ve taken off will allow the tree to take up water more easily, so there’s no need to use boiling water.”

Rofe stresses that “trees really don’t like the heat” and adding boiling water to the mix threatens its lifespan. There are only 12 days of Christmas after all.

A common Christmas tree tactic might is a huge holiday no-no, experts warn. Getty Images/iStockphoto

“If you want your tree to last as long as possible, it’s best to keep your tree in your coolest room, away from direct heat such as radiators and underfloor heating, and make sure it always has sufficient water,” Rofe advises.

For its part, the National Christmas Tree Association also strongly suggests using “lots of water” to care for the tree — more than half of a cut Christmas tree’s weight is water.

Wrapping it in low-heat lights is another way to increase its lifespan, as it reduces the drying of the tree.

Almanac.com, meanwhile, references a Vermont resident’s trick to add moist soil inside the tree stand.

Putting boiling water in Christmas tree stands is harmful to the trees’ health, say experts. Getty Images/iStockphoto
Room-temperature water is fine for a tree, according to specialists. Getty Images/iStockphoto

Gardening expert Oliver Johnson explained to Ideal Home that the first few days at home are the most essential watering times for a tree.

“You’ll find your tree will need a lot of water when you first get it home, so give it a drink on a daily basis for the first few days and every few days after that,” he told the outlet.

“You can do this with room temperature water rather than boiling. If you have a stand with a reservoir, simply keep this topped up throughout the festive season.”

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