Caring for a Christmas tree

Gn0me · December 2021

I purchased this tree a couple of days ago to put outside on my bistro table and I've looked up how I'm supposed to care for it but I'm a bit confused and worried that I might damage it.

As you should be able to see in the photos, the roots are currently in a bag. I don't know if there are drainage holes at the bottom of the bag.

I've read that if the tree was grown in that environment then the roots should be strong but if it was taken from the ground first then they will probably be very vulnerable. I don't know how it was grown.

Am I supposed to take it out its bag and add soil to build up the surround within the pot?

Also, with it being outside, how often should I water it? Is there a specific fertiliser or feed I could use?

Thanks very much and hope you can help.

Gn0me, Today at 10:44 AM

JennyJ · December 2021

It'll be happier outside than it would be in a heated house, which is where a lot of them will end their days.

I think I would lift it out of the pot, carefully take it out of the bag and pot it into a plant pot with drainage holes. If you're planning to try to keep it going, a decent compost such as John Innes No. 2 or 3 formula (or equivalent peat-free) would be best. It won't need feeding at this time of year (particularly with a bit of new compost) but any general-purpose balanced fertiliser will be OK in the spring/summer when you see it starting to make new growth.

If the red pot doesn't have drainage holes then don't re-use it. You could use it in an outer pot if it's going to be somewhere out of the rain and if you lift it out for watering so that the excess can drain away. Water enough to keep the root ball moist but not sodden, like any other plant kept in a pot (and don't forget in the summer when it's likely to be tucked away in a corner somewhere until next Christmas - you can probably guess how I know that!!)

Gn0me · December 2021

Thanks very much for your reply, I really appreciate it.

When I moved into my current house, there was a nice holly tree in the corner of the garden but looked like it was about to keel over as it was in a large warped plastic pot where the roots seemed to have busted through drainage holes. Being totally clueless and ignorant I thought it was a great idea to dig around, lift it up, remove the pot and replant it in the ground in a nice upright position. It turned out to be a nightmare, needless to say I killed it and its corpse is still in the corner haunting me.

So with this one I'm a bit paranoid about disturbing its roots. After Christmas, can/should I still leave it in a pot and does that stump its growth? Should/Could I stick it in the ground to replace the holly tree?

In the meantime, I already have a big bag of Miracle-Gro All Purpose Compost. Would that do? I also have a bag of J. Arthur Bower's Topsoil but I'm assuming that should only be used for its intended purpose.

Thanks again.

JennyJ · December 2021

Mix some of the topsoil with the multi-purpose, about one part topsoil to two or three parts compost (it doesn't have to be exact). That will give you something similar to JI formula.

The holly's roots were probably disturbed too much because of having grown right out of the pot, and even in the best circumstances big mature shrubs with a lot of root are harder to move and re-establish than small young ones, so don't beat yourself up about it. When you get around to taking it out, look at it as a planting opportunity.

You could put the Christmas tree in the holly's place, but if it's Norway Spruce (looks like it) they're very very big when mature so unless you have a big garden and no neighbours near where you plant it, be prepared to cut it down before it gets unmanageable. Alternatively you could move it to a bigger pot every year or two for several years and enjoy it on the patio for Christmas, before it starts to decline, if you look after it.

Tack · December 2021

If yours is like mine (from Crocus) the bag (no holes in it) concealed a perforated pot that the tree is totally rootbound in. I cut the very tough pot off and have repotted into a bigger pot with a topsoil and MPC mix. I am hoping to reuse this tree for several years before planting and eventually cutting. Fingers crossed for both our trees

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/ja/d747e5dk35m1.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/6u/mh4ks7z7flbt.jpeg

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/mf/7gfkpt5oujfu.jpeg

Gn0me · December 2021

Thanks for that Tack.

Just checked, it's the same set up: a perforated pot inside the bag with roots coming out the holes. Did you manage to completely detach the pot without destroying any roots? I remember that's what happened to my holly tree!

Yours looks quite a bit bigger than mine so my red pot should still be fine. That said, I prefer your black one with the drip tray. I'm assuming you can generally get them anywhere?

Thanks again.

Athelas · December 2021

Elho have pot and saucer combos and my local garden centre have them (also other brands) so shouldn’t be hard to find.

You can even get saucers with wheels:

https://circularandco.com/shop/ecopots-flower-pots-and-planters/saucers/ecopots-round-saucer-on-wheels

Tack · December 2021

I did my best with the roots. The pot is very tough and needed a sharp stanley knife and some patience. My black pot was one I already had, I did buy it online but garden centres should stock some. Its size has given a 5cm margin all around and underneath for new soil and I hope will be ok until after Christmas 22.

Gn0me · December 2021

Thanks again.

If I kept it in this perforated pot, what would eventually happen? Would it be a case of simply living still but just not growing anymore?

Tack · December 2021

I don't know Gn0me, looking at mine the perforations were not adequate I thought. I really want it to grow evenly for several years, in the past I've noticed that if I didn't pot the tree up each year the tips produced fewer and fewer branching buds.

Caring for a Christmas tree

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