How can I keep my tree healthy when I bring it indoors?

Matt James says: All pot-grown trees need to be acclimatised gradually over a couple of days. Don’t bring them in from the cold into a hot sitting room – instead place your tree somewhere cooler first, such as a cool room, porch or conservatory, away from warm radiators.

The same principle applies after Christmas – don’t put it straight outside; re-acclimatise it for a week or so in a cool place. Then scrape off the top inch of compost, sprinkle on a little fertiliser such as Growmore or Blood, Fish and Bone before topping up with fresh compost. If your tree hasn’t been repotted for at least three years, transfer it to a slightly bigger plastic container around mid-March. Use soil-based John Innes No. 3 Compost, £14.95 for a 30-litre bag from Garden Direct.

Featured in the December 2011 issue of Real Homes