<p>I’ve put up a Christmas tree for the first time in 20 years and I’m so enjoying it. I got it about 2 weeks ago and I know it was freshly cut because I saw it being cut. I’ve kept it well watered and it looks so fresh and isn’t dropping needles. H and I are leaving for FL on the 4th for a week. We’ll turn down the thermostats and of course not have the Christmas lights on. I’d like to keep it to enjoy when we get back. Is this stupid? I won’t hold any of you liable for your responses. I’m not calling our fire dept because they’d say to not leave it up, but I’m thinking it’s not really different from a house plant, right?</p>
<p>hmmmmm… I probably wouldn’t do it, but what’s gonna happen ? Can a tree spontaneously combust?</p>
<p>We cut our tree the first week of December and it is still fresh–not dropping needles or drooping. So if you saw it cut and have kept watering it, I would say you are ok. </p>
<p>Many trees that people buy, especially in cities, were cut months ago. I’ve seen trees on trucks on the highway in October. They may have been cut in September!</p>
<p>A house plant would be alive and recieving nutrients to stay that way- so yah.
But if you really want to and wont be disappointed if you have needles everywhere when you return, ( not saying you will)I dont see the harm.</p>
<p>No I wouldn’t care about needles on the floor. I don’t think it would combust just sitting in our living room, would it? That would be my only concern.</p>
<p>We left ours up one year until the third week of January for the same reason as yours, and it was fine.</p>
<p>If you are worried, maybe you could move it out to your deck if you have one. We did that one year and it was nice. It looked pretty with the snow on it and any needles it dropped were outside.</p>
<p>If it was cut only 2 weeks ago, and it’s in a big enough water container, then it will likely be fine. The only problem that I can see is that it will run out of water. </p>
<p>wow…first tree in 20 years. No wonder it’s extra special for you. :)</p>
<p>A question: are you leaving it up so you can enjoy it when you get back? or will you take it down as soon as you get home? Are you just wanting to enjoy it for the next couple of days?</p>
<p>We have a really large water container, like at least a gallon. Yeah, I want to enjoy it the next two days and then maybe when we come back. It’s such a pretty tree. It’s just starting to smell really nice. We got it from a neighbor’s farm.</p>
<p>We went to FL for 20 years.</p>
<p>We do have a deck but it has about 4 feet of snow on it. We can’t keep up. Now we are getting guests while we are gone, 4 adults and a baby and 3 dogs. This is when I start to hyperventilate. I’m washing another 3 loads of laundry and will remake the beds before we leave. These are our dearest friends who are always more than welcome. What do dogs do with Christmas trees?</p>
<p>Wonderful! You have people who will enjoy the tree and who can keep it watered for you!!</p>
<p>Call the friends, discuss the tree situation with them. They know how their dogs are likely to behave around the tree, and will be able to tell you if it needs to come down so that the dogs don’t try to eat it.</p>
<p>Just unplug the lights, turn down the heat, and fill up the water container. It will be fine.</p>
<p>I guess if the dogs will behave badly, I can make it our friends’ job to put the tree on our screen porch. They were always so good about disciplining their kids, but the dogs, not so much. Eternal babies, I swear.</p>
<p>Wasn’t there a thread about a month ago about the trees not sucking up any water after a certain time frame ? I am also enjoying my tree which stopped sucking up the water shortly after I brought it in , yet the needles are still not dropping. It has been one of the nicest looking trees I have had in recent years, though not very fragrant.
I think as long as it isn’t plugged in , it should be fine</p>
<p>In my experience, over many years and many dogs, dogs don’t pay any attention to Christmas trees AT ALL. The only danger they pose is if wagging tails hit fragile ornaments on the lower branches. </p>
<p>Cats are another story.</p>
<p>Every time my 6 month old Labradoodle runs past the tree at her customary breakneck speed, the ornaments fly! We’ve lost five today.</p>
<p>I did just e-mail our friends about the tree. Two of the 3 dogs are pretty wild and we’ll probably have to move the tree out, but H will help me because they are his friends too. Our ornaments are incredibly inexpensive, but cleaning up the broken balls would be a pain for them when they’re taking care of a baby.</p>
<p>And yes, the tree has hardly used any water after the first week.</p>
<p>^^Really after only one week and you saw it freshly cut? I have had to put water in the container for the last four+ weeks. It has been drinking less recently, but is still drinking.</p>
<p>My H does drill a hole into the trunk when we get home before we put it in the stand, or sometimes he saws off a small piece. That leaves fresh openings to absorb water. But I still think you are fine, except for the dogs apparently.</p>
<p>They are incredibly flammable, so if I were hosting guests in my home in my absence, I’d get the tree outside and away from the house. It won’t burst into flames on its own, of course, but best to move it to a fire pit or brush pile.</p>