Now that you’ve ordered your living Christmas tree, there are some rules you should follow, kind of like Fight Club. No, not really. But we do need to talk about how to take care of your tree for the duration of the holiday season.

Here at the Living Christmas Company, we came up with some simple guidelines for your living tree.

Step One: Select the perfect location. Choose a level surface away from heaters and fireplaces. (Heaters will dry out the tree and turn the tips brown and crispy). Make sure the tray is placed securely below the pot of the tree. You may want to allow for additional protection in the event that the tray overflows.

Step Deux: Water your tree! (We don’t water the trees the day of delivery, so your tree is thirsty when it arrives) Pour water slowly into the pot until you can begin to see it come out through the holes on the bottom. We recommend a watering can with a long, narrow spout.

Step Three: Decorate your tree. Feel free to name, sing to, and decorate your tree as you see fit. We enjoy receiving photos and hearing the stories that accompany each and every tree. You can upload photos in the Geneology section of the website. Use your barcode for reference.

Step Four: Maintain your tree. We ask that you don’t attempt to trim or fertilize your tree (doing so runs the risk of infecting all the trees back at the nursery). You should water as in Step Deux every couple days to ensure the tree’s health, but use common sense and do not allow water to stand in the tray for more than a couple days. Be careful not to overflow the tray.

Step Five: Prepare to say “Adios!” Please remove all of your ornaments (it is almost impossible to get them back to you) and lights. Place the tree as close to the door as possible. If you move your tree outside prior to pick-up time, please leave your tree in a covered area, as direct sun will burn it. Don’t forget to keep watering your tree. Then ‘wave good-bye… don’t you cry, he’ll be back again someday!’

Don’t forget—you can see your tree again! At your request, we will do our best to mark your tree to have the same one delivered to your home or business next year.