The Household Appliance That Can Help Keep Your Christmas Tree Fresh For Longer

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

A fresh-cut Christmas tree can be a source of joy for many families this time of year, but it's often a challenge to keep it alive all holiday season. This is where humidity might play a role. As a rule of thumb, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has long recommended keeping indoor humidity levels between 30% and 50%. Humidity levels that fall below this range means the air is much too dry for your home as well as for your moisture-loving Christmas tree, too. Increasing humidity with the help of a portable humidifier can add moisture to the air to get the overall levels back up to an ideal range. While this household appliance can possibly make the air around your Christmas tree more moist, the fate of your tree shouldn't rest on a humidifier alone.

The ideal humidity level for a cut Christmas tree isn't well-established, and there's no scientific studies that explicitly support the use of a humidifier for keeping it fresh. However, it makes sense that keeping your home within the right humidity range might help prevent this important holiday centerpiece from drying out prematurely when used in conjunction with giving your tree adequate water. A dried out tree not only looks sad, but it's a significant fire hazard to have in your home, too. Using a humidifier is also a common technique used to protect tropical houseplants during winter, and it's considered an easier alternative to physically spraying the tree with a bottle of water. By adding this method to your overall Christmas tree care plan, you might be able to see a difference in its overall freshness throughout the holidays.

Before using a humidifier for your Christmas tree, consider getting a portable version you can easily program and move around as needed. One example is the JRD Ultrasonic Cool Mist Humidifier, which is designed for large rooms. Set it up in the same room as your tree for best results. Also, by programming the humidifier to run at the upper end of the EPA's recommended range, you can ensure the space is comfortable for both you and your Christmas tree. Some humidifiers have built-in hygrometers that allow the device to shut off when it reaches the desired setting. If yours does not, you can keep tabs on the levels with a separate hygrometer.

While a humidifier can be helpful in combatting dry air, your Christmas tree requires more care than this device can offer alone. Regular watering remains the best way you can prevent your tree from drying out while also maintaining its freshness for longer. According to Michigan State University Extension, the average cut Christmas tree drinks about 1 quart of water per bottom trunk diameter every day, especially when it's fresh. Replenish the water every single day for as long as your tree continues to take it up.

On the other hand, if your Christmas tree has already dried out, it's too late to use a humidifier in hopes of trying to refresh it. A key sign of a dry tree is to do the needle test. If several needles fall off when you brush one of the branches, it may be time to recycle the tree and start with a new one.