Where do you live? What's the weather like now?

Are you planning on growing the tree in a container after the holidays (until next year)?

Unfortunately, many try this, and it seldom works. Most temperate region conifers can't survive spending part of the winter inside. They survive the winter by going dormant...bringing them inside will "wake the them up". Then if you put them outside during the winter, they aren't ready. The dry air produced by most heating systems sucks the moisture out of them as well.

Blue Spruce isn't a terrible choice. It likes dry conditions, so it might do better with the dry air.

Also, remember a plant in a pot doesn't have as much insulation around the roots as a plant in the ground. I find a tree has to be able to be rated to survive a full zone colder then your area to last the winter outside in a pot.

It is, however, worth a try. I buy my parents a couple holy after Thanksgiving every year, and plant them outside after New Years. Most years the Blue Princess hollies survive. I've never got American Holly to survive this treatment.

Norfolk Island Pine is one of the few pines that does well inside as a house plant. It's why they sell it at Home Depot. It's not terribly cold tolerant. What is your USDA zone?

For what it's worth, your chances are probably better then if you had purchased it earlier...the tree is spending less time inside. In this case procrastination works in your favor.

Things you could try to improve your chances:

1.) Humidifiers inside the house near the tree.

2.) Having the tree acclimate in the garage before moving it outside. (To my mind more important then having it acclimate before going inside.)

3.) Digging a hole in the ground in a sheltered part of your yard and putting the pot in it after Christmas.

Thanks a lot for the replies. Happy Anniversary Mike. :-)

Sorry, I forgot to include my location. I am in Southern Ontario, about 10-15 miles north of Toronto. I think my USDA zone is 5-6. The temperature has been a little higher than normal this year, ranging from 32-50. Any recommendations on the type of tree would be appreciated.

If I bought it today or tomorrow, kept it in the garage for 1 day before bringing it inside, then after Christmas kept it in the garage for 1 week before taking it outside, would that work?

Would it be possible to keep it in a pot on the deck when I take it outside?

Depends on the tree. Norfolk Island Pine has the best chance of surviving permanently inside as a house plant, but no way would it survive the winter outside in Ontario.

Remember, the tree on the deck has less insulation around it's roots then a tree in the ground. I'd say you have to pick a tree that can survive in Zone 4 to last the winter in a pot on the deck in Ontario. Blue Spruce or Dwarf Alberta Spruce might work.

You'll have a tougher job with this then miketann in Zone 8. The contrast between indoor and outdoor temperatures are less for him.

What kind of heating do you have? Forced air is probably worst for this.

your base problem is your house heating system.. and what it will do with humidity ... and then how cold it is.. after xmas ... and having to slam it back outside. .. not to mention the ground might freeze by then ... and on top of all that.. i wouldnt have it in the house more than a week ...

no odds of bringing it back in next year ...

it can be done.. i did it long ago in MI ... and it wasnt easy

ken

One year we had the Christmas tree in a pot out on the deck visible to the inside of the house through the sliding glass door. We had a few cats and it worked better that way. Less stress. The kids were older then.

Mike

btw ... how big you talking about??? .. when i did it.. i did 2 and 3 footers.... staged on large tall pots.. turned upside down ... to give them height ...

also... growing all next summer in a pot.. has its own set of problems.. depending on size ...

ken

I forgot to mention I heat with wood heat. Right now the humidity outside is 97% and rain with 35F. temperature. Inside it's 32% humidity and 74F.

BIG difference!

Mike

A Colorado Spruce will bite you. When you go to pick a live tree feel the needles to see if it is something you want to brush up against. Also smell the needles to see if the scent is what you want. As for acclimation, this year should be no trouble given it is an El Nino year, other years may be trickier. You may get by for a couple of years sinking the pot in the ground when not inside but make sure you lift it before the ground freezes.

tj

Thanks again for all of the advice. We have a forced air heating system and the tree would be about 8-10 feet away from the nearest vent. The Blue Spruce I saw were about 3-4 feet tall.

I guess if the chances are slim for survival, I should forget about keeping it in a pot on the deck. I can hopefully dig out a hole right now.

My back yard faces East. The back end of the yard furthest away from the house gets more sunlight while front end of the yard gets more shade. Where would be best to plant a Blue Spruce?

Didn't mean to dissuade you. If the weather gods are kind it might work a season or two.

In theory Blue Spruce likes full sun. In practice...put it where it will have plenty of room.

I tend to like to put evergreens to the North (to block north wind) or in front of neighbors that are too close. And in parts of the yard you can see in the winter. (In view of a window or the route from house to car...)

Thanks again. Do you mean keeping it on the deck in a pot might work for a season or two, or even planting it in a pot in the ground might work for a season or two?

Also, I was browsing here and I came across this tree that I really like.

Linda's condo · More Info

I mean keeping it on the deck might work for a season or two...it's partly just luck, in terms of what your weather is like in January.

Can't tell what kind of tree that is from this distance...message her. In terms of that specimen, my concern is the pot is too small...that thing doesn't have much in the way of roots. A living tree that size should have more roots. And remember, this works more reliably for folks in warmer climates.

Useful Link from that article:

[Living Christmas Tree[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/last-minute-christmas-mini-tree-in-a-pot-stsetivw-vs~1038054)