Many people choose to put water in the base of their Christmas tree to help keep it hydrated and healthy. You can use water that has been treated with a commercial tree preservative, or you can make your own tree preservative by mixing a quart of water with a few drops of liquid bleach and a teaspoon of sugar. It's important to keep the water in the base of the tree topped up, as the tree will absorb it through its roots and use it to stay hydrated.