The Theory

Many people believe that adding vodka when watering a Christmas tree will help preserve the tree. The basis for this belief is the fact that alcohol thins various types of lacquers. Because many lacquers contain tree resins, adding alcohol when watering Christmas trees should, in theory, prevent the sap in the tree from skinning over where the tree was cut. This skinning over of the cut of the tree slows water absorption and causes the tree to dry out faster, so avoiding this skinning with vodka should prolong tree life.

The Reality

While alcohol may thin lacquers and tree resins, it also tends to dry things out. Adding vodka and other forms of alcohol to Christmas tree water has, in fact, been shown to turn the tree's needles brown and cause the tree to dry out faster than water alone. Adding vodka when watering a Christmas tree is not only bad for the tree but also potentially dangerous to small children and pets who may drink from the tree stand.

What Does Work?