Christmas trees

We bought a fancy xmas tree stand last year from homebase (they offered a deal on the stand and tree) and we're very happy with it.  I think it's german and it's very easy to use and I believe comes with a life time guarantee.

Tally - THANK YOU!! DF is doing everything to avoid buying a tree stand.

Sorry to sidetrack this. But let me interject some comic relief.

DF bought a real tree for the first time (it's the first time I'll be there; told him real is the only way to go...love him!). I told him that you had to water it daily, but the smell and the real feel would be worth it. He fell for the bloke at the tree lot telling him "it will last until Christmas without water."

Help me come up with logical things to convince him that 1) no plant can survive for a long time without water and 2) two pieces of wood hammered into a tree stump do not constitute a tree stand.

<<sigh>> Can't wait until I'm there in person to do this whole process.

Our tree stand has a little gauge to show you when it needs more water : )  I can't get down to look at it though (baby coming any day now!) so have resorted to nagging dh to check!

The first xmas I spent here the tree lived in a bucket full of sand, lol.  Needless to say, it didn't last until the new year!  My grandpa grew xmas trees back home and they are definitely a living thing even after cut.  After all, you have to put fresh flowers in a vase with water and that's only to keep them from dying for a few days.  We expect trees to last a few weeks and tbh they are a fire hazard if you don't water them. 

There is a pretty good episode of mythbusters about xmas trees where they try to see what will make them last the longest.  Strangely enough I think it involved spraying them with hairspray, adding bleach to the water and other odd experiments.

Good luck!!

Our tree stand has a little gauge to show you when it needs more water : ) 

Ooooh! I want one of those!!

I have to use an artificial tree because of allergies, but I know people who add Sprite to their tree water (and fresh cut flowers too) to help prolong life. I've also heard adding a couple tablespoons of bleach to the water, either alone or with Sprite can also help.

This is the one we have:

http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10151&catalogId=1500001201&langId=110&searchTerms=tree+stand&authToken=

It was on offer, I believe the stand and a 4-6 ft tree were £35, they have a similar deal this year.