I want to know if there is any real sense to adding sugar to the water that you water your x-mas tree with? it seems to me that the sugar would only clog up the inner tree mechanisms, but the idea that the sugar would somehow help extend the tree’s lingering lifespan has some weird logic? Anyone know ?
It could probably do some good if the tree is still taking up water. Inside out of the sunlight the tree won’t be producing it’s own sugar. The sugar provided may give the leaves enough energy to stay alive without starving. Aded to this the sudden heat flush probaly has the leaves doing all sorts of things, thinking it’s spring, that could well be chewing more energy.
I know sugar water keeps cut flowers alive longer.
Does this make sense: the cells and water bearing structures (xylem/phloem?) in the trunk of the tree are not built to carry pure water. Normally the water is absorbed by the roots, and pick up sugars before being drawn up into the trunk. Placing the severed trunk into water instead of a (near) isotonic solution will play havoc with the cells and probably wreck the H[sub]2[/sub]O transport system.
Just a guess, but it seems to jibe with my rudimentary rememberances of long-ago biology classes.
TXLonghorn, that seems to make sense, but I assure you that an xmas tree with a fresh cut end will suck up GALLONS of water, even without additives. I’ve seen it plenty of times. Most of the water uptake is by capillary action, and a big tree in a forest can suck up and respirate TONS of water in a few days.
What you’re thinking about is Osmosis. Water will always osmotically flow from a lesser ionized solution to the higher one. So that means pure water will diffuse into the mineral-saturated plant tissues, never the reverse.
Everything I’ve ever read states that plain old water is the best thing for your tree. Cut a slice off the trunk when you get home, and then fill the stand with hot water. After that, keep the level up with plain tap water.