Tips for selecting the perfect Christmas tree

When choosing a Christmas tree, select one with firm needles that don't drop off when the tree is raised up a few inches and dropped to the ground. Some needles dropping is normal.

Trees that were cut many weeks or even months ago will drop their needles shortly after being brought indoors. I avoid purchasing trees that have been painted to improve their color.

The bottom of the stump should be moist with some sap present. Once the tree is at home, cut another half inch or more off the stump and immediately place the tree into your stand with water. Make sure the stand is full of water each day.

A freshly cut tree can take up as much as a gallon of water in a day and you may need to refill the basin more than once daily for first few days after installing the tree inside. If left in a stand without water, the tree will form a seal across the stump, which prevents it from taking up any more water.

Dry trees can become serious fire hazards. Keep live Christmas trees away from heat sources such as fireplaces, radiators and furnace vents and check daily for water to maintain the tree in the best possible condition.

• Evergreens will lose some needles in the fall. As long as the drop is not excessive and the overall color of the remaining foliage is a normal shade of green, you should not have to worry. Generally, the needles fall from the center portion of the tree.

Bald cypress, which looks like it should be an evergreen, is a deciduous conifer and is supposed to lose its leaves in fall.

• Poinsettias like lots of bright, indirect sunlight. They are sensitive to extreme temperatures so it is best to keep the plants away from cold drafts and heat vents and protect them from cold outdoor temperatures when bringing them home.

Daytime temperatures of 65 degrees work well for prolonging the display of the colored bracts. Water the plants thoroughly when the soil is dry to the touch. There is no need to fertilize them during the holiday season.

It is a good idea to either remove decorative foil from the bottom of gift plant pots or punch holes in the foil to allow water to drain properly. Standing water and moisture building up under a pot without a saucer can damage wood furniture surfaces while also harming the plant.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.