How often should I water a Christmas tree? Expert-approved top tips for keeping your tree fresh throughout the festive season

There’s something magical about the scent of a fresh Christmas tree filling your home, its twinkling lights and carefully chosen decorations setting the scene for the season’s festivities.

While it might not seem like a big deal, how often you water your Christmas tree can make all the difference in keeping it lush, vibrant, and safe.

While there are so many Christmas tree trends out there, there’s no point decorating it if you don’t know how to look after a real Christmas tree. Keeping the magic alive requires a little TLC. Watering your Christmas tree is a big part of that, which is why we decided to consult with the experts to understand how you should keep your tree healthy and hydrated.

But how much water is enough? And how often should you top up the stand to keep it thriving?

These simple steps will ensure your tree stays fresh and thriving from the day you brought it home, throughout the big day and well into the New Year.

How often should I water a Christmas tree?

The benefits of a real Christmas tree certainly outweigh the cons, but there’s no doubt that these trees require a lot of maintenance - especially in the watering department.

'It is imperative to keep an eye on the water. Check the water levels in the stand daily or every other day and top up as needed - you’ll want the trunk consistently immersed,' explains Keira Kay, Bloom & Wild's plant expert.

A real Christmas tree could potentially absorb 1-2 litres of water every single day, which is why it’s important to keep the trunk submerged in water at all times. A stand with a water well will help you do that.

'Ideally, you should be giving the tree a minimum of 500ml of water a day,' advises Graham Smith MCIHort, a horticultural expert from LBS Horticulture, 'but check the water level in the tree stand to ensure that the trunk remains submerged.'

Of course, this amount will change on a tree-by-tree basis and is highly dependent on both the size and the health of your tree. Nevertheless, experts recommend watering your potted Christmas tree every couple of days and ensuring your water stand is full of water at all times.

'To keep a potted Christmas tree healthy and to avoid drooping or any needle loss, water it every other day with approximately 500ml to 1 litre of water (depending on its size),' recommends Keira. 'Use room-temperature water to prevent shocking the tree, and always check the soil moisture before watering to ensure it doesn’t become waterlogged.'

‘You should aim to water it with 1 litre or so of water every two days, so spread this out effectively,' advises Steve Chilton, garden expert at LeisureBench. 'Some days you may need more than 500ml to fill it up, and some you may need less. It really does depend on where your Christmas tree is placed, so just make sure to keep an eye on it and make sure it doesn't dry out.’

‘I recommend maintaining a water level that lies above the base of the trunk at all times and make sure that your tree stand/base can hold enough water to keep the tree healthy. The less the base can hold, the more you'll have to water it.’

And what about miniature Christmas trees? 'Tiny trees need watering, just like any plant,' says Keira. 'So make sure your tree’s soil always feels damp (never waterlogged). We recommend checking it every couple of days. Touch the soil with your fingertips. If the top few inches feel dry, your tree is probably a bit thirsty. After Christmas, your tree is ready to live outside. Repot it into a larger pot in multi-purpose compost, or into the ground somewhere it has a little room to grow.'

Can I over water a Christmas tree?

Watering your Christmas tree with 1 litre of water every couple of days certainly seems a lot, so we can understand why you may question whether you can overwater a Christmas tree. But the answer to this question all depends on what type of Christmas tree you have.

If you have a cut Christmas tree in a water stand, it’s impossible to overwater it. That’s because the cut tree will only ever absorb the water it needs - which is why it’s so important to keep the water well full at all times. And if there’s too much in the water well, the tree simply won’t absorb it until it needs to.

However, it is possible to overwater a potted Christmas tree. Too much water in a container without proper drainage holes can very easily cause root rot, which could see your Christmas tree die before the big day. Because of this, you should ensure that your potted tree comes in a pot that has good drainage so any excess water won’t drown the roots.

Horticultural expert Graham explains that 'if the tree is left to stand in water or you notice that water is gathering in the saucer beneath the pot of the tree, it is being overwatered and may begin to suffer from root rot. Ensure that your tree is in a container that has plenty of drainage holes to avoid this problem, or consider if you need to reduce watering.'

Should I spray water on my Christmas tree?

Christmas trees weren’t designed to live indoors, especially cut trees in a house with central heating and radiators in every room. Because of this, it’s very easy for real trees to dry out and start to die when they are placed inside a home. To combat this dry and hot climate, it’s worth spraying water on your Christmas tree once a day.

Although spray your tree with caution explains Graham Smith. 'If the tree is decorated with lights, this can actually be hazardous.'

You don’t have to arm yourself with a giant water gun and completely drench the tree, though. A small spray bottle should do the trick, and this should allow you to gently mist the needles and the branches of the Christmas tree. This will not only keep the tree hydrated but will also prevent the needles from becoming too brittle.

How do I know if my Christmas tree is too dry?

‘Regular watering is essential for Christmas trees, and often we find that one major problem is that they're not watered enough, either due to forgetting or the idea that they simply don't need to be watered,’ says Steve.

‘If you don't water them enough, then you'll find that the tree won't last as long, which can be a problem, especially if you get your Christmas tree earlier on in the season.’ But while it’s very easy to under-water a real Christmas tree, it’s important to understand the signs of a dry Christmas tree so you can act fast.

Visible signs of a dry Christmas tree are:

• Brittle needles: If you were to run your hands over the branches and the needles of a well-watered tree, you should find that they bend and move with your movements. 'If the needles are falling off easily, it could be a sign that your tree needs more water,' explains Mark Rofe at Christmastrees.co.uk. 'The best thing you can do in this situation is to water the tree and place it in a cool place, away from direct heat like radiators or underfloor heating.’
• Brown needles: Just like many other plants, a Christmas tree will turn brown when it’s dried out. And if you spot that the needles on your Christmas tree are starting to lose their green colour, it’s a sure sign that you need to give it a drink.
• Drooping: The fullness of a healthy tree makes it perfect for hanging decorations on, but if you start to notice that the branches and decorations are getting closer and closer to the floor, you might want to give your Christmas tree some TLC. As soon as it starts to droop or wilt, you need to give it some water.

And if your Christmas tree dries out, it's not just the aesthetics you need to worry about. 'Christmas trees, real ones in particular, are highly flammable and can pose a fire risk in the home,' warns Nick Higginson, CEO of Phoenix Health & Safety.

'Real Christmas trees will gradually dry out over time, after which they become an even greater fire hazard, as they will be easier to ignite and burn faster if set alight.'

Why is my Christmas tree not drinking water?

If you're noticing that your tree isn't taking up any water, there's a simple solution.

'Usually, if your tree is not taking up water then this is because the trunk has been cut incorrectly,' explains horticulture expert Graham. 'After purchasing your tree, you need to make a straight cut at least half an inch from the bottom of the base to remove dried, hardened sap. Once you have made this cut, immediately submerge the trunk in water to prevent the new cut from sealing over with sap, as this will affect how much water the tree can take up.'

'Another reason that a tree may not be taking up water is if there has been anything added to the water,' Graham continues. 'A real Christmas tree will only need clean, fresh water every day, and you should not add anything to this water or to the tree itself. Most additives that supposedly help the tree have little to no effect at all, and some may even affect water retention in the tree or increase moisture loss.'

How do I make my Christmas tree last longer?

Andrew Porwol, garden and landscape expert and founder of Sapcote Garden Centre advises choosing 'a robust stand filled with plenty of water and keep your Christmas tree away from heat sources to lengthen its life. Trim the trunk of your tree an inch before immersing it in water.'

Then get your chosen tree in water straight away. 'Ensure that your tree is placed into water as soon as you have brought it home, as they can absorb a lot of water in the first 24 hours after being cut,' explains Graham.

'Ensure that at least two inches of the tree trunk are submerged in clean water at all times to prevent sap from forming over the base.'

It's also important to consider where you put your Christmas tree for maximum impact, and also from a practical perspective, says Creative Strategist, Jonathan Thorneycroft, from Blooming Haus. 'Keep the tree away from direct heat sources like radiators or fireplaces.' Graham agrees: 'The warmer your home is, the more water that your tree will need to stop it from drying out too quickly.'

Graham advises 'only use LED lights to decorate a real tree, as incandescent lights emit heat that will dry out the tree faster.'

So, it’s important to maintain a regular watering schedule to ensure a healthy and happy tree over the Christmas period.

And if you don't fancy the faff of watering altogether, our picks of the best artificial Christmas trees look close to, and some might say better than, the real thing.