Set Your Thermostat To This Temperature To Help Your Real Christmas Tree Last Longer

It's a time-honored image, one that's plastered on the front of greeting cards and in classic Christmas movies. A beautifully decorated tree, filled with hanging lights, garlands, and ornaments, standing next to a cozy burning fireplace with stockings hung above and all the Yuletide trimmings — a scene that screams holiday magic. With this classic idea of Christmas everywhere, it's no wonder we often find ourselves trying to recreate it in our own homes for the perfect seasonal setting. However, we don't always consider what's best for our evergreens in this situation, like how the heat from that fireplace might be affecting our real Christmas tree. The ideal indoor temperature for a Christmas tree is between roughly 65 and 72 degrees Fahrenheit; if you set your thermostat any higher or place your tree near a heat source, you could risk it drying out before the holidays arrive.

It's tempting to turn the temperature up when winter arrives because you need protection from the cold, but your Christmas tree won't do so well in the heat. With hot, dry air causing it to lose moisture much quicker, you'll have to be extra careful with your watering routine to keep your Christmas tree alive all holiday season. If you want to make it last as long as possible, it's recommended that you set your thermostat to an optimal temperature, maintain a relative humidity level of 40 to 60%, and keep your tree away from heat sources — creating an atmosphere that traditional Christmas trees are most comfortable in.

The last thing you want after buying a live Christmas tree is for it to die before the holiday arrives. Real Christmas trees start losing moisture as soon as they're chopped down and are susceptible to a variety of issues when kept in rooms with higher temperatures and lack of moisture, like premature needle loss and drooping branches. If these issues persist, your tree could die and become a serious fire hazard, so it's essential that you keep it hydrated and thriving. Anything you can do to make sure your tree maintains its moisture — including daily watering and setting the correct temperature — will help it stay fresh.

If the air in your home is dry, adding a humidifier will help keep moisture in the room and prevent your tree's needles from drying out or becoming brittle. It is also worth remembering that your tree will need to consume less water if you keep your home at the lower end of the appropriate temperature range. Once you have your thermostat set to the right temperature, be sure to steer clear of elements that emit heat — like radiators, vents, sun exposure, the fireplace, or incandescent bulbs — and pay close attention to how much water your Christmas tree needs to thrive. Provide a cooler atmosphere inside your home — something more like your Christmas tree would experience outside — and it will fare much better throughout the season.