Christmas trees can be contaminated with pesticides - what you should pay attention to when buying
Created: 11/28/2022, 5:30 p.m
Many Christmas trees are contaminated with dangerous pesticides.
So that you can enjoy Christmas Eve carefree, you should take a close look at the purchase.
According to the Norddeutscher Rundfunk
(NDR
)
, almost 30 million Christmas trees are
sold in Germany every year.
The Germans are particularly fond of Nordmann firs.
With a market share of 80 percent, they were among the most popular trees in 2021.
But blue spruce or silver fir can also be found in many Christmas rooms in this country, where they are lovingly decorated for the festival.
So that the joy of the Christmas tree lasts for a long time, you should consider a few things when buying it.
Buying a Christmas tree: Conventional or ecological?
Buyers often have to travel long distances to find the perfect Christmas tree for the festival.
© Müller-Stauffenberg/Imago
Most Christmas trees that are commercially available grow in large plantations in Germany, especially in North Rhine-Westphalia, Schleswig-Holstein and Lower Saxony.
The rest is often imported from Denmark.
However, according to a BUND report from 2020, two thirds of conventional Christmas trees are said to be contaminated with pesticides.
14 of 32 trees tested nationwide contained residues of up to nine pesticides.
"Our test shows that herbicides, insecticides and fungicides are used on a large scale when cultivating Christmas trees in plantations," explains pesticide expert Corinna Hölzel.
“Particularly critical is the high multiple load, many Christmas trees are exposed to a veritable cocktail of pesticides.
The interaction of the individual substances on human health is almost unknown.
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The
German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation
(BUND) therefore advises buying certified organic Christmas trees or directly from the forester or forest owner.
These grow without sprays and thus ensure good indoor air at Christmas time.
Freshly cut Christmas trees from the region last longer
It doesn't matter whether it's an organic tree or a conventional tree: Experience has shown that freshly cut Christmas trees from the region last the longest and give buyers joy for a long time.
You can tell whether a tree is fresh, i.e. has only recently been felled, by the bright interface: “For trees that have been there for a long time, the interface turns grey.
The needles are another clue: if they prick you when you buy them, the tree is no longer fresh," says a report by
NDR
.
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Always store the Christmas tree outdoors
After purchase, the Christmas tree should still be stored in the net in a sun and wind-protected place outdoors or in the garage - never in a warm apartment.
There he would quickly dry up and pinch.
Also, put it in a bucket of water to keep it fresh longer.
When should I buy the Christmas tree?
If you can only store the Christmas tree in your apartment, you should only buy it shortly before the festival.
Otherwise, he keeps himself properly cared for and with optimal storage around four to six weeks, writes the
editorial
network (RND
)
.
Alternatively, there are also Christmas trees in pots, which - if cared for - can give you many years of pleasure.