Select a healthy Christmas tree before bringing it home

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. A small amount of needles dropping is normal.

The bottom of the stump should be moist with some sap present.

Trees that were cut many weeks or even months ago will drop their needles shortly after being brought indoors. The trees that retain their needles the longest are the balsam and white firs; red, white and Scots pines; and Douglas fir.

Once the tree is at home, cut another 2 inches or so 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 a day 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.

• Poinsettias are popular holiday plants and like lots of bright, indirect sunlight. They are sensitive to extreme temperatures, so it is best to keep them away from cold drafts and heat vents.

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 put a saucer at the bottom of gift plant pots while on display in your home to prevent water from running all over after watering. Standing water and moisture that can build up under a pot without a saucer may damage wood furniture surfaces.

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