Fireproofing Your Christmas Tree

Nothing beats the smell of a real Christmas tree in your home during the holiday season.  It’s a tradition for many families to go to a Christmas tree lot or out in the wilderness to pick out the perfect tree. Having a real Christmas tree is lovely, but it can pose a fire hazard if not correctly fireproofed.

Fireproofing your Christmas tree is easy and takes little to no effort. Here’s the perfect solution you can create at home that will protect your tree and family.

FIREPROOFING YOUR CHRISTMAS TREE RECIPE

INGREDIENTS

• 2 gallons of hot water
• 2 cups of Karo syrup
• 2 ounces of bleach (1/4 cup)
• 2 pinches of Epsom salts
• 1/2 teaspoon of borax

DIRECTIONS

Strip three inches of bark off the bottom of the tree trunk. That way, the solution can enter the sides and the bottom.

Next, place the tree trunk into a large empty bucket that can hold at least 2 ½ gallons of liquid

Mix all the ingredients and stir well

Pour mixed ingredients in the bucket with the tree trunk in it. Make sure the water is hot because it needs to break up the sap to make it towards the top of the tree

Fill the tree’s reservoir twice a day, morning and night, with the mixture or as needed.

HOW DOES THIS FIREPROOFING WORK?

The Karo syrup provides the sugar, which allows the tree to soak up enormous amounts of water. Without sugar in the mixture, your Christmas tree will only absorb a small amount of water. You can expect the tree to soak up one and a half gallons of the recipe within 10-14 days, resulting in the tree absorbing approximately 800% more water than growing in the forest. Having this much moisture in the tree will prevent the tree from being too dry and susceptible to catching fire.

The boron in the borax allows the water and sugar to move to every needle on your tree. The Epsom salts contain magnesium compounds that are essential for chlorophyll production, which keeps the needles green. The bleach will stop mold from forming when water and sugar stand for some time.

Do you shop for a real Christmas tree or Artificial Christmas trees? Please share with us on Instagram or Facebook and tag @cityfloralgardencenter or in the comments below!