You buy a potted tree, but you take care of it at home. Then it’s too late

Christmas is literally around the corner, so it’s time to think about choosing a Christmas tree. If you want to save the environment, potted trees are an excellent choice. They won’t fly out of the window after the Christmas holidays, but will find their place in nature when planted in the soil. How to choose such a tree and how to care for it properly?

Buying a cut tree from a nursery is still one of the most common options, but recently people have been calling for saving nature and trying to preserve it. This has given rise to the option of a potted Christmas tree that will not die unnecessarily but will be left to grow in its chosen place in nature. However, you should start looking after it before you bring it home. This is the only way to avoid unnecessary mistakes.

Check the tree

There are several important factors you should look for when buying such a tree. First of all, it should be healthy and well-developed, and if you get the chance, check the appearance of the roots. If the tree has been removed from the ground just before sale and is barely potted up, you will be able to tell by the roots. In this case, only the thick large roots are visible and there is no sign of the finer roots. After planting, it might wither. A good quality sapling should therefore be firmly rooted and must not move when gently pulled up.

Temperature is essential

Before bringing the tree inside the house, first place it in an unheated room for a few days. A garage or conservatory with a temperature between 15 and 18 °C is ideal. This will help it to adapt better to the change in temperature. Once the holidays are over, put it back in until it is time to take it outside. At higher temperatures, shoots could start to grow, which would interrupt the growing season and freeze them outside.

At the same time, remember to check the soil moisture in the pot daily. It must not be dry, but neither must it be constantly wet. There is no harm in piling pebbles in the bottom of the pot to allow excess water to drain away. Avoid placing near radiators, fireplaces and direct sunlight.

Think of the future

If you plan to keep the tree and use it in future years, choose a smaller, slow-growing variety. Otherwise, you could quickly be surprised by its size. If you want to transplant a tree outside, make sure you don’t plant it during frost. Let it overwinter in a pot until conditions are suitable. Otherwise, temperature shock could occur. The ideal time is early spring when the weather has warmed up and the ground has thawed.