there are two current front page posts on such.. in the conifer forum ...

ken

Sam take a look at the link below.

Sara

Here is a link that might be useful: Living Christmas Trees

I did it a few years back (our first year in this house) with a potted Dwarf Colorado Blue Spruce (fm Monrovia) from a local nursery that I trust. We decided around mid Nov to go that route, and I pre-dug a hole in the yard for it the next appropriate day (not too wet, not too cold, etc.). Got the tree ~Dec 10th or 15th. I watered lightly twice a day, and had the nursery pot within a larger pot (so that water could drain, not stand at the roots). Also closed the heat vent nearby so that it wouldn't dry out. Planted it on Dec 28th, as I recall.

It did drop quite a few needles. I kept it watered through the rest of winter and thru summer. The next year it didn't grow too much. Interestingly, I bought one at the same time for my father in law to replace one he lost due to ice. He planted right away (didn't do the live Christmas tree thing). His put on a good bit of growth the following spring, whereas mine didn't. It's doing well now, but his is still ~12 inches taller. All that to say I believe the time spent indoors did stunt the little guy a bit. But that's part of it. I certainly wouldn't try to keep one for a full month or anything.

Cool thing is, I planted it in the front yard near the street, so part of my Christmas decorating habit is to string it with lights, which looks good. So every December as I decorate it, I remember our first Christmas in this house w/ the little 4ft. blue spruce Christmas tree. Good memories.

Also, I think container-grown would be a better choice than B&B, just so you don't have any loss of root mass to deal with. But that of course limits you on size.

YMMV

f&f, thanks for the link, one year they used Bristlecone Pine, interesting choice.
Here is Italian Stone Pine Pinus pinea once again sold at local bog box. They are also selling "Ellwoodii' Lawson Cypress. Neither of these plants will ever become a healthy, beautiful specimen like the one in my OP. I guess we should regard them as disposable potted plants?
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