Christmas tree tips

My step-mom Lynda read the recent Sow There! about Christmas trees and sent me a link to the Department of Agriculture Rocky Mountain Region Web site.

As there are cocktails for most occasions, there apparently is a cocktail for freshly-cut Christmas trees. Who knew?

This one is a fire-proofing concoction for freshly-cut trees.
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I have my doubts whether this will work for Christmas trees purchased from tree-lots, but let me know if you have results.

Fireproofing Mixture

2 gals. of hot water
2 cups corn syrup
2 oz. liquid bleach
2 pinches Epsom salts
1/2 tsp. borax
1 tsp. chelated iron (garden shop)
How does this fireproofing work?

The corn syrup provides sugar, which allows the tree to soak up a lot of water. Without sugar, only a small amount of water is absorbed. You can expect the tree to soak up 1 1/2 gallons of the recipe during the 10- to 14-day period your tree is up, which is about 800 percent more water than it would have absorbed growing in the forest.
The boron (in the borax) makes the water and sugar move to every needle of your tree. The epsom salts and chelated iron provide magnesium sulfate help chlorophyll production, keeping your needles green. Bleach stops mold from forming when water and sugar stand for awhile.

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