Why is my Christmas tree dropping needles already?

You may only just have put your Christmas tree up, but if it's already dropping needles, you may have a problem on your hands. And, unchecked, you may find that it's brownish and bare by Christmas instead of green and lush.

The reasons why your Christmas tree is dropping needles won't surprise you: if you have bought a cut tree rather than a potted one with roots, essentially, you have a dying plant on your hands.

The trick is to slow the march towards Christmas tree expiration as much as possible, which will, in turn, slow down the rate that it drops needles.

There are many methods, from the right tree placement to a solid watering schedule, that you can use to keep a Christmas tree alive for as long as possible. These are the most reliable, I've found as Homes & Gardens' garden expert and number one fan of a lush look on the 25th. 

How to stop a Christmas tree dropping needles

The type of tree and how its kept will determine how quickly it drops needles. Fir trees with root balls are far less likely to drop needles, and you can replant them outside after Christmas, while spruces (even potted ones) are much more likely to drop. 

However, whether your Christmas tree is potted or cut, fir or spruce, if it's dropping needles, it's trying to send you a message that it's not happy. And there are some actions you can take to fix that. This is what I do.

1. Move it away from a heat source

Your Christmas tree should be nowhere near a heat source. This includes a fire, radiator or even a south-facing window. 

And while your indoor Christmas lighting ideas might be integral to your decor, they can dry out your tree faster if you overdo them. Fewer lights, or smaller, LED lights will give off less heat and slow the drying out process. 

Ideally, the tree would like a little humidity so if the air in your room is dry, consider introducing a humidifier. 

2. Cut off the bottom of the trunk

When you get fresh flowers, you cut off the bottoms and plunge them into water, right? The Christmas tree needs the same treatment; it is, after all, just a much bigger version of those flowers. 

Why cut off the bottom inch of a Christmas tree first? It will remove the resin that's formed there and help with water uptake. If you didn't do this first, it's likely your tree can't take the drink it needs.

3. Keep it constantly watered

Watering your Christmas tree regularly won't just slow down needle loss, it will help make your Christmas tree look fuller too.

But, how often to water a Christmas tree? For cut trees, I'd advise investing in a Christmas tree stand with a reservoir for water. That way, just like cut flowers, it will have a constant supply of fresh water. Good tree reservoirs will have a water level indicator, so you know when they need topping up again. 

And you will have to – the experts at Michigan State University say a Christmas tree drinks a quart of water per inch of trunk diameter every day. 

For potted trees, keep the soil moist but not wet. You definitely don't want to over-water it, with rots sitting constantly in water. Doing so can also lead to needles turning yellow and brown.

4. Move a potted tree to a larger container

If yours is a potted tree bought recently from a plant nursery, it may well be poorly containerized, with only the soil it came out of the ground with to maintain it. 

Before I buy a potted tree, I like to check the roots aren't damaged, which will cause needles to drop. Then when I get it home, I usually plunge the roots into a bucket of water before repotting it into a larger container with a good mix of sand and compost. 

Ticking both these boxes doesn't just help it survive indoors longer without dropping needles, it also means it's sturdier and less likely to topple or lean.

5. Move it outdoors for a spell

There's a limit to how long a Christmas tree, cut or potted, can endure indoor conditions – around 12 days. Firs and spruces are meant for mountainous locations not heated living spaces, so there are a few options: the first is to hold off bringing yours indoors until just a couple of weeks before Christmas; another is to put it back outside again and look after it out there for a little longer before bringing it back in; the third is to turn the heating down.

How do I stop my Christmas tree from dropping needles?

Ensuring the Christmas tree isn't near a heat source and is well watered are both key to stopping a Christmas tree from dropping needles. However, when you buy your tree, check that it isn't already dropping needles. Ideally, they should be attached to the tree firmly enough so that if you pull them a little, they stay on the tree and don't come off in your hand. 

Can you revive a drooping Christmas tree?

Watering a drooping Christmas tree with fresh water is the best way to revive it although if that doesn't work, you could give it a drink of sugar water, which will help revive the tree and should reduce needle loss.