Home Depot has dwarf Alberta Spruce for sale in one-, two-, and three-gallon pots as "living Christmas trees." I was thinking I might grab one to make into pre-bonsai (I know, not an ideal species, but they're cheap). If I decided to throw some tinsel on it and keep it indoors for the holidays, how long before the warm temps starts to make it come out of dormancy?
How long can I bring a spruce indoors?
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Zach Smith
Omono
Alas, coming out of dormancy will not be the problem if you bring a spruce indoors for the holidays. The species will not survive the dry heat. Consider the duration of your average bonsai show (3 days) as the limit for keeping any temperate zone tree indoors. It's a good rule of thumb.
Jzack605
Chumono
An old client did that with a blue spruce, they had it inside at least two weeks, three tops. The tree is now happily planted outside in their front yard.
Japonicus
Imperial Masterpiece
Is it indoors now at HD? If so...it could be a big problem to shove it out into Chicago come January.
sorce
Nonsense Rascal
Aye, the ones inside at Walmart are already dropping needles after a week or two.
But they are unwatered.
I kept one inside for a week I think OK.
Good ones stay out.
Them 3-4ft cut $25 are the replacement!
Sorce
But they are unwatered.
I kept one inside for a week I think OK.
Good ones stay out.
Them 3-4ft cut $25 are the replacement!
Sorce
They're outdoors at HD right now. Probably wouldn't even consider it if they were being kept inside!
Wires_Guy_wires
Imperial Masterpiece
My mom loves buying those. The maximum we've kept them alive indoors is around 2 months. I still have those, after 8 years. Crappy cultivar for bonsai, but still fun to play with.
penumbra
Imperial Masterpiece
There is not one answer here because conditions inside are variable. In my basement growroom I might get along for a couple months if I am very lucky but in my living area, heated by a wood stove, they would suffer dramatically after a few days. Especially the dwarf Alberta which I expect would be covered with mites within hours or days.
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