<p>morrismm, it’s been about 2 weeks, maybe 3 since it was cut. It’s been very wet around here, but the tree was still thirsty at first. I watered every day. I still check every day, but the water level isn’t going down. I’ll probably have to put it outside because of the dogs. The baby is too young to crawl, so no problem there. He’d probably like seeing the lights and balls.</p>
<p>There should be a special cloud in heaven for people willing to let a family with three dogs and a baby stay in their home while they’re gone. ;)</p>
<p>I hear ya. Love my Christmas trees. We’ve always had a live one, even years we were gone at Christmas. I think the cut heals over, all the evergreens have some sticky sap, so after a while they stop drawing up water. It sounds like you’re taking the tree down because of the dogs, but why not stick it in a snow bank, then when you return cut off some ofmthe branches and stick them in an old Adirondack backpack or other container? You could even put a bucket of water in the bottom in case the branches are still drinking. Sticking it in a snow bank holds it up and provides moisture - maybe the needles will soak some in.</p>
<p>That’s what I’m doing with the tree when we take it down next weekend (except the part aboutmthe snow bank). I love that fresh smell and always hate to see it taken down, but worse is the sight of a brown tree on garbage pick up day in March. That’s the kind of detail the neighbors would tell the press (should they ever have reason to snoop around.)</p>
<p>Good luck with it!</p>
<p>My answer is no, not because of safety, but because I wouldn’t want to come back from vacation and be faced with the chore of cleaning up after the tree and putting everything away.</p>
<p>I don’t think the flammability of the tree is the issue, as you will have house guests that can water it, the bigger questions that other raise are:</p>
<ul>
<li>do you want to deal with it when you get back or now?</li>
<li>how will doggie & baby guests be around it?</li>
</ul>