Vodka Great Tonic for X-Mas Tree
Posted by: [email="asaykin@wgrz.gannett.com"]Aaron Saykin, Reporter
Updated by: [email="kdegeorg@wgrz.gannett.com"]Kim DeGeorge, Assignment Desk Editor
Created: 11/30/2004 10:04:35 PM
Updated: 12/3/2005 5:15:29 PM
With Christmas just a couple weeks away, many folks will be out buying Christmas trees this weekend. But, how do you keep your Christmas tree from drying out before St. Nick comes down the chimney?
An architect from Eugene, Oregon may have come up with a “vodka” tonic that could keep your tree as fresh as the day it was chopped down.
“So I figured, let’s try adding vodka to the bottom of the tree,” said Ken Nagao.
Actually, some experts believe that adding a splash of vodka to the tree water will keep your branches shiny and spruced up.
“If you actually think about it, it might actually work,” said John Miller, of Adams Nurseries in Tonawanda.
“The only thing I can think it might do is break the sap up so it doesn’t seal up so it can keep drinking water,” Miller said.
Experts also recommend adding a tree preservative to the water.
“I would actually say this is more important than putting in vodka,” Miller said.
The architect from Oregon used both, and plenty of water. His tree made it until Valentine’s Day.
Last year, 2 On Your Side put the tonic to the test. We bought our own tree on December 4th. It lasted through most of January.
If you’d like to try it yourself, just use the following ingredients:
- lots of water
- a splash of vodka every time you fill your stand
- tree preservative, preferably “Prolong”
