Effectiveness of I–V watering devices in maintaining postharvest freshness and quality of cut Christmas trees

Experiments were carried out with cut Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziezii (Mirb.) Franco) and Leyland cypress [x Cupressocyparis leylandii (A.B. Jacks. & Dallim.)] Christmas trees to evaluate postharvest water uptake, moisture status, needle loss, and tree quality when water was supplied to displayed trees either by an I–V device or a traditional method of placing the base in water. In both experiments, trees consumed about 4× as much water with the traditional method. Based on measurements of twig moisture content, xylem pressure potential (Ψ), needle loss, and total water consumption, tree freshness and quality was adequately maintained by the traditional method, but not the I–V device.