Real Christmas Trees

[treborman]

hi all
just a quick one , this year we gone for a real tree in a pot which we can put outside during the year till next year,
but the question is do we have to repot it to make it grow bigger and when the best time ?
plus any tips on looking after it during the summer and hopefully years to come.

[Tilly2]

Are you planning to bring it into the house again next year?

[2sp_]

Personally I would just bung it outside after Christmas and re-pot it when it gets too small for the pot it's in.

But I tend to treat all my plants harshly - with pretty good results to be honest.

[treborman]

yes we are if we can.

[Tilly2]

If your garden is anything like mine, trebor, the pot will be full of creatures which may be disturbed by the warmth of the house.

We have a tree in a pot outside which has been there for four years. It has grown well, considering it is virtually neglected.

[2sp_]

One concession I would make would be to gradually put it out and take it in. If you have a porch or garage I would put it in there for a week or so so that you don't frighten the life out of it with a change in temperature moving straight from house to garden and vice versa.

[jomifl]

Plant it in a loamy compost in as big a pot as you can manage. It's size will eventually be limited by the size of the pot and how much (if at all) you feed it. put it outside asap after christmas and water it regularly.
There are a few sites available via google that will give enough information to enable you to customise your tree care to suit your requirements(and the tree's).

[Robinia]

I agree with 2sp, reintroduce it to the outdoors gradually.

Lol Tilly, I thought about bringing my blue spruce in for Christmas but heaven knows what might crawling out of it....so I thought again :)

[Chipchopper]

I'm guessing that you have bought the tree already, is that right ?.
If so I'm hoping that you have purchased a 'pot grown' tree rather that a potted tree. The latter may have been dug up from a plantation, with it's roots exposed to the elements, then possibly days later, shoved into a pot with some compost or soil and then offered for sale.

If you have a pot grown tree then obviously you will stand a much better chance of keeping the tree alive for next year and maybe more.

The best advice I can give, is keep the tree moist and away from radiators or any heat source.
Put it outside as soon as possible, after the festivities then continue to look after it by keeping it weed free and watered. one way of preventing it from drying out is to put a tray under the pot.
Re-pot it in the spring with a soils based compost, and with luck, you're tree will last for many years to come!

Good Luck Chip