People just realising how much you need to water your Christmas tree every day

It’s already just three weeks until Christmas and millions of people up and down the UK have already got their Christmas tree up, stockings on the mantlepiece and presents ordered.

But people are only just realising that you need to water your Christmas tree every single day if you have a real one – and not with a small amount either.

Real Christmas trees are still alive when you bring them home and, much like cut flowers, will be able to take in water to keep themselves going for a few weeks. 

If you’re getting your tree up and decorated already, you will need to heed the advice to avoid a brown, droopy dead fir by the time Father Christmas has arrived.

Posting on the CasualUK subReddit, one embattled husband, @corsten610, posted: “My wife insists no one waters their Christmas tree in England. 

“It’s her first Christmas here in the US and she’s stumped why I drilled holes in the bottom and wanted Miracle Grow fertiliser for it, she had no idea we were giving it water.” 

And it turns out that people do in fact water their Christmas trees, and they need a lot of water.

@atv_racer said: “I sell Christmas trees. I always recommend to customers who buy a real tree, to keep it in a base that holds water and keep away from radiators/heat sources too.

“Cut the bottom 3 inches off the trunk so the base is fresh and soaks up water easier. Sometimes, stripping bark round the base can also help the tree consume water.

“A tree will probably drink 1-2 pints in its first day of being set up, but will maybe only have 2-3 pints from day 2 until Christmas is over (this obviously depends on how warm you have your room and also how big your tree is).” 

@bitterotter added: “If you have underfloor heating as we do, then if you don’t water it then it’ll be very dead, very quickly. Not much different with radiators. Our 6 foot Nordman will usually drink about half a litre a day. Lived in England my whole life and have never not watered the tree.”

Home and DIY experts B&Q have confirmed you need at least 500ml of water per day, or just under a pint.

They said: “Water your real Christmas tree every day to keep it looking plump and full. A dehydrated tree will start to droop and wilt quickly, so we recommend adding a minimum of 500ml of water a day. A real tree can absorb around 1-2 litres of water per day, however a cut tree will keep hydrated with less.

“Avoid putting your real tree in sand or soil as this can reduce the amount of water it can uptake.”