"There used to be more tinsel!" Many of us are familiar with this line from Loriot's "The Hoppenstedt Family", in which decorating the tree is not entirely free of conflict ... Before we get down to decorating, Saskia Blümel from the German Christmas Tree Growers' Association gives some helpful tips on buying and storing.
Recognizing quality and freshness when buying a Christmas tree
"A good quality tree has an even and round growth habit, undamaged branches with no signs of grinding and a trunk with a straight cut surface. The lighter it is, the fresher the tree is," explains the expert.
TIP: The needles can also give an indication: If they are shiny, the tree is fresh. On the other hand, whether the tree is a little needled says nothing about when it was cut. In the wild, trees also needle.
This Christmas tree is bought most often
The Nordmann fir is the most popular Christmas tree in Germany with a market share of around 70 percent. It has firm, non-prickly needles and an even growth habit. The blue spruce is well suited for heavy Christmas tree decorations due to its strong branches. However, its needles prick and trickle down quickly. The silver fir, also known as Nobilis fir, has soft blue-green needles that smell of orange. Red spruces are the cheapest.
The best way to store your Christmas tree
"If possible, the tree should not yet be placed indoors, but should be stored outdoors in a net, protected from the sun and wind. To prevent it from drying out, place it in a bucket of water and saw off two to three centimeters at the bottom beforehand. However, if it is freezing, it is better to put it in the cellar or store it in the garage," says Saskia Blümel.
When should I put it up in the apartment?
"Ideally the day before decorating: it needs this time to get the branches back into the right position. Place it in the Christmas tree stand with a net and remove the net from the bottom up."
How does it stay fresh at home over the holidays?
"Place it in a Christmas tree stand with a water container: a tree about 2 meters high needs up to 2 liters of water a day. It is also ideal to saw off two to three centimetres of the tree before putting it up and then water it daily. Also very important: if possible, don't place the tree directly in front of the heating, as it loses its needles particularly quickly there."
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