Living Christmas Trees in Pots: Species, Care and Replanting

A living Christmas tree can spend about a week indoors before it needs to go back outside, according to extension services. Dig the planting hole before the ground freezes, and choose a species that is hardy where you live. Norfolk Island pine and rosemary follow a different route: in cold regions they stay indoors as houseplants.

The EPA lists buying a living tree you can plant outside or keep as a houseplant among its ideas for a lower-waste holiday. It works best with a plan made before December.

How long can a living Christmas tree stay indoors?

Not long. Every source below says to keep the stay short; they differ slightly on the number.

Which species should you choose?

Pick a tree that grows well outdoors where you will plant it. A nursery label or your county extension office can confirm the hardiness zone.

NC State Extension’s Pender County center notes that Fraser firs and spruces grow well in North Carolina only in the mountains. For the coast it suggests Chinese juniper, Japanese cedar, holly, Southern magnolia or rosemary instead.

In the far north the risk is higher. The Chicago Botanic Garden calls living evergreens indoors “a bit risky” in its region and notes that sellers usually will not guarantee survival.

How to care for a living tree, step by step

Before Christmas

1. Dig the hole early. Penn State advises digging while the ground is unfrozen, 1 to 2 feet wider than the root ball and as deep as the root ball from the root flare down.
2. Plan for weight. A 5-foot tree with a moist root ball can weigh about 200 pounds, the Chicago Botanic Garden says, so a furniture dolly helps. Penn State suggests choosing a smaller tree than you would cut.
3. Acclimate it. Penn State recommends a garage, shed or sheltered spot for 1 to 2 weeks before bringing a balled-and-burlapped tree inside.

While it is indoors

Keep the tree in the coolest room you have, away from heat sources and direct sun. Check soil moisture daily, since containers dry out quickly indoors. Penn State suggests setting a balled tree on stones in its container so it does not sit in standing water.

After Christmas

• Move the tree back to a sheltered spot, such as an open garage, for a few days.
• Remove the burlap fully, as Penn State advises.
• Plant no deeper than the root ball (NC State).
• Water well and mulch with 2 to 3 inches, keeping mulch off the trunk. The Chicago Botanic Garden advises no fertilizer at planting.

Norfolk Island pine: the houseplant Christmas tree

Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla) is not a true pine. It comes from Norfolk Island in the Pacific, between New Zealand and New Caledonia, and is hardy outdoors only in USDA zones 9a to 11b. Elsewhere it is a long-lived houseplant, reaching about 9 feet indoors according to NC State.

Iowa State University Extension gives these care points:

• Light: a bright spot near an east, west or south window, turned weekly so it grows evenly.
• Temperature: 55 to 70°F.
• Water: soak it when the soil surface is dry, then empty the saucer.
• Humidity: winter air indoors is dry; a humidifier or pebble tray helps.
• Feeding: dilute fertilizer every 2 to 4 weeks from spring to early fall.

Low humidity, poor light or dry soil can brown the branch tips and cost the tree its lower branches.

Rosemary trees: a small, useful option

Potted rosemary shaped into a cone is sold as a tabletop Christmas tree. NC State lists rosemary as hardy in zones 8a to 10b, needing full sun and well-drained soil. It also warns that rosemary has a low tolerance for wet, humid conditions and can be hard to keep indoors over winter.

University of Wisconsin-Madison Extension notes that rosemary is not hardy in Wisconsin and is grown there as a potted plant.

Its advice: keep the plant in a cool, bright spot below 65°F, away from radiators and vents, and check the soil once or twice a week, watering when it feels dry. In cold regions, move it outside in spring after the threat of frost and repot it with fresh potting mix.

In zones where it is hardy, NC State’s Pender County center notes it can stay indoors through winter and be planted outside in spring.

Can you buy a living tree online?

Yes, with limits. The USDA’s plant protection program and the plant health agency in each state regulate shipments of nursery stock to slow the spread of pests and diseases. Some states keep their own quarantines, so a seller may not ship certain plants to your address.

Before ordering, check the listing’s shipping area and the seller’s notes on your state. Plan for delivery well before your planting date, and keep the plant cool and watered on arrival.

Related guides

Still deciding? Our real vs artificial Christmas tree comparison lays out what life-cycle studies found. For trees that need no soil at all, see alternative Christmas trees in wood, felt and driftwood. Potted herbs and plants also appear in our low-waste Christmas gifts by interest. The full overview is on the eco-friendly Christmas hub.