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Christmas Trees: another point of view
Like a little tempest in a teapot, the debate over real Christmas trees versus artificial trees heats up again. With all this hot air, the real meaning behind Christmas trees is being shoved aside. Christmas trees are supposed to remind us of everlasting life during winter not carbon footprints and dollars.
And the type of tree chosen should be personal. And life affirming.
For example, people with mold-sensitivities, asthma or compromised immune systems need to take extra precautions around live Christmas trees. The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology found that live Christmas trees can multiply a household mold spore count by five times the normal level after two weeks. Labouring over every breath around a festive tree doesn’t exactly spell joy and good health.
Even if you have these complications, and you still really want a life tree indoors, limit the time the live tree spends indoors to four to seven days and/or run an air cleaner in the same room to keep mold spore counts down.
And to push the life theme further, the evergreen trees really should be living…not cut trees. Cut trees are basically bouquets of flowers dying by the minute. The top five Christmas trees in Ontario are Fraser fir, Balsam fir, Scots pine, Noble fir and white pine. Fraser firs hold needles the longest, about 1 month, whereas Scots pine hold their needles only 2 ½ weeks. Generally, firs hold on to their needles the longest, whereas spruces drop their needles first. Not really life affirming. Ha!
How do we get around this?
If you have the space, plant your favourite evergreen conifer outside…and decorate every Christmas.
Many of cold hardy conifers don’t make good houseplants. But thankfully, there are a few exceptions:
- Goldcrest cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa ‘Goldcrest’), a lime green conifer
- Norfolk pine (Araucaria heterophylla), a dark green, tiered branched conifer.
These attractive conifers lend themselves to holiday decorations and growing indoors, although the cypress needs bright light to survive indoors.
Rosemary topiaries, cut into a tree-like shape, can also used in place of cut tree. Crushing rosemary’s pine-like leaves emits a resin-like aroma, similar to pine. Decorate it with small ornaments and ribbons.
Regardless what you type of tree you choose, keep the true spirit of Christmas alive. Merry Christmas, everyone!
Written by Cristina da Silva
Tuesday, November 29, 2011 in Plants
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In Deep South, Leyland Cypress is one of the top choices for fresh cut trees. It does hold its needles a really long time if kept well watered.
Rosemary inside has been a challenge for me. Think I may have killed it with kindness—too much water. Think it got wet feet and just couldn’t recover.
Have always wished that we could the wonderful smelling Balsam fir here in Alabama.
I always have a living tree, not a cut one but a potted one. It grows from one year to the next, like I do. This also presents decorating challenges that I welcome. My trees usually last out on the patio for 3yrs w/repotting, and then end up planted in the yard.
I must say that I do love Norfolk Island Pine.. it’s such a forgiving plant of my neglectfulness!