Around the holidays, you’ll see (Blue) Spruces for sale in pots everywhere. While it sounds like a great idea in theory, if you’re looking for a tree that’ll actually thrive long-term, those pre-potted Christmas trees usually aren’t the best bet. Let’s talk about how to do it right and what better alternatives are out there.
Where should I get a healthy Blue Spruce?
Your best bet is to head to a local nursery or a specialized garden center. The trees sold specifically as Christmas trees in big-box stores often aren’t meant to live forever. Sometimes, their root balls are aggressively hacked back just to fit into a decorative pot, which isn’t exactly “expert” pruning. This prevents the tree from soaking up the water and nutrients it needs, leading to those dreaded brown needles before you know it.
Potting your Blue Spruce
If you want your tree to stay happy, you’ve got to give it some room to breathe. Plant your Blue Spruce in a large container—we’re talking at least a 10-gallon (40-liter) pot. Start by lining the bottom with a drainage layer of broken terracotta shards or coarse gravel to keep the roots from getting soggy feet.
Fill the rest with high-quality potting soil. If you want to get fancy, mix in some leaf compost, perlite, or lava granules to keep the soil nice and airy. Set your spruce in the pot, fill in the gaps with soil, and give it a good, deep watering.
What happens when the tree gets too big?
Once your Blue Spruce starts hitting its stride, your first instinct might be to just keep moving it to a bigger pot. But there’s a limit to that! Once the tree reaches about 5 feet (1.5 meters) tall, it’s really time to let it move out into the garden where it can stretch its roots.
Caring for your potted spruce
Blue Spruces are thirsty guests, so make sure you’re watering them regularly. If they dry out for too long, they become magnets for pests. To keep it lush and green, give it a little bit of conifer fertilizer every four weeks.
The Quick Essentials:
- Avoid buying trees marketed strictly as “disposable” Christmas trees.
- Pot size: At least 10 gallons (40 liters).
- Always include a drainage layer at the bottom.
- Use high-quality potting soil, lightened up with compost, perlite, or lava granules.
- Fertilize every 4 weeks from March through September.
- Keep the soil consistently moist.
- Add a layer of mulch (grass clippings, leaves, or pine needles) to prevent the soil from drying out too fast.
- Prune carefully—never cut back into the old wood.
Pro Tip: You can absolutely use your potted Blue Spruce as a Christmas tree! Just make sure you adjust your care routine (like keeping it away from heaters) while it’s indoors.
