is coming New Year- a holiday that is traditionally celebrated by most people in the world. It is hard to imagine it without gifts, champagne, tangerines, Olivier salad and, of course, without christmas tree. The tradition of decorating houses with coniferous trees for the New Year appeared three hundred years ago, when Tsar Peter I introduced the western chronology. However, Christmas trees and pines grow very slowly, only 10-20 cm per year, and they fall off quickly, so you should pay attention to an artificial tree.

Benefits of artificial Christmas trees

Modern manufacturers of artificial Christmas trees and pines are ready to offer the widest range beautiful trees for every taste, color and size. You can easily pick up a Christmas tree both for your desktop and in a large hall with a high ceiling. Of course, a living tree can also be selected in size and shape, but is it worth it?

A live Christmas tree or pine has only one advantage - they smell pleasantly like pine needles. As you know, this aroma has a beneficial effect on the body due to the high concentration of essential oils. But how long will it last? Even if you properly care for a living Christmas tree, it will still begin to crumble sooner or later. Endlessly sweeping the needles is quite tiring, and it’s just a pity to see how the forest beauty dies. And for spruce to grow, it will take many years, and, unfortunately, the growth rate does not keep pace with the rate of felling.

Of course, for those who want to buy a living tree, there is a way out - to buy an artificial Christmas tree or a pine tree in a tub, but this is not a cheap pleasure, for which you will have to pay every year. In addition, you will have to think about where to plant a tree after the holiday.

It is quite another matter - artificial Christmas trees, which outwardly may not differ in any way from living ones - the quality of production today is at a completely different level than in our childhood. An artificial tree will delight you not for a week or two, but for years, and will not lose its attractiveness if it is properly stored.

By purchasing a high-quality artificial spruce, you can save a lot - you will not need to spend money on another tree every year. You can admire live fir trees in the nearest park, and if you need the scent of pine needles in your house, you can always buy essential oil or put a bouquet of spruce branches on the table.

Buying an artificial Christmas tree is:

• maintaining the family budget;
• preservation of ecology;
• no need for constant cleaning of needles;
• ease of assembly, disassembly and storage;
• a huge number of variations of shapes, sizes, colors.

In the Mega-Elki.com.ua store you can buy a Christmas tree for every taste: green, blue, with frost, with colored tips, snowy, small or large, for home or street. All products have certificates of quality and are available at attractive prices - the store has started a holiday sale.

What are artificial Christmas trees?

For the production of artificial trees, modern safe materials that do not contain toxic substances are used. The service life of a tree depends on the materials used and is on average 10 years.

The range of Christmas trees on the market is very diverse:

• Cast artificial Christmas trees. Their peculiarity is that all branches are cast in separate forms, due to which their needles are as similar as possible to natural ones. At the same time, the needles are not prickly, which is important if there are children in the family. The guarantee for such goods is 10 years, but they last longer. Not cheap, but because of the service life they are very profitable to purchase.
• Christmas trees made of PVC film. They look beautiful, the needles are soft, recommended for families with children. The tree does not ignite, the guarantee is 5 years, and the price is affordable.
• Tree from fishing line. It was very popular in Soviet times, but today such a Christmas tree no longer resembles a dish brush. Quality wood looks beautiful, it is very durable, but its needles are prickly. Warranty - 15 years, average price.
• Fiber optic Christmas trees. Fiber optic strands are embedded in the tree, through which light passes. It seems that the spruce glows from the inside, and there is no need for garlands. The voltage for the operation of such a tree is only 12 watts, so it is safe to use. Warranty - 10 years, price - average.

Tree shapes can be very different, but the most popular options are spruce or fluffy pine.

Choosing and maintaining an artificial Christmas tree

In order for the New Year tree to please with its beauty from year to year, it is necessary to choose and store it correctly. The most important rule for buying a Christmas tree is not to look for the cheapest option. An artificial spruce is a long-term investment in a holiday. An inexpensive Chinese tree may contain harmful substances, its needles will be wrinkled, and in case of fire it will flare up like a candle.

When choosing a Christmas tree, run your hand over the needles against their “growth” - for a quality product, the needles should retain their shape and direction. Ask for a certificate, check that there is no wire sticking out of the tree. It is best to make a purchase at the Mega Elki store, where each product is tested, certified and made by the best European manufacturers.

In order for an artificial spruce or pine tree to be well preserved not only until the next holidays, but also to please you for many years, you need to properly fold and pack it.

1. Remove all decorations from the tree and wipe it from dust with wet wipes.
2. Point the branches up, press against the trunk and carefully tie with a soft rope.
3. Wrap the tree in cellophane or a plastic container.
4. Store the tree in a dark, dry place such as a closet. It is not recommended to leave the tree on the balcony, where it can be cold in winter or hot in summer.

You can store the Christmas tree in the sofa, on the shelf in the pantry, and it will not take up much space. For a city apartment, the optimal size of an artificial tree is 1-1.8 meters, so it is easy to find a place for it.

Artificial Christmas trees are a great way to save money and keep environment while giving to your family wonderful holiday. Contact the Mega Elki store now, while promotional prices for the best New Year trees in the country are in effect.

Artificial Christmas trees are rapidly replacing natural ones, and if at the beginning of their appearance on the New Year's goods market they did not inspire confidence either in quality or even in appearance, now every year more and more families prefer them.

Why artificial spruces are better

• Ease of assembly and lack of maintenance, as well as crumbling needles.
• Security, because high-quality modern artificial Christmas trees do not burn, but only smolder.
• Low cost taking into account the recalculation for many years that a tree chosen with a sense of business will serve.

One of the most unusual artificial trees, namely upside down, was invented specifically for Christmas shop windows in order to save space, for which you already have to pay a lot of rent. Under the tree, on the contrary, you can see all the goods and gifts, there is enough space for the movement of buyers, and the symbol of the upcoming holiday is preserved, albeit in such an unconventional form.

In order to choose an artificial Christmas tree that will not only not cause trouble, but will also please you year after year, you need to take into account several factors.

Manufacturers of artificial Christmas trees

Everyone knows that the lion's share of New Year's products on the Russian market is made in China, and in connection with this, a choice arises: turn directly to goods made in Europe, or even in the USA, or look for and find high-quality artificial Christmas trees from Russian manufacturers or from the same China, but with a quality certificate.

It all depends on how much and how much time the buyer has.

• Faster and more expensive European spruce: it is guaranteed to have a quality certificate and is unlikely to disappoint with its appearance and properties.
• If you want to save money, then you need to spend time looking for a conscientious Russian manufacturer, which, upon request, is able to provide all the necessary documents for its products.
• You can also empirically try to find a good artificial Christmas tree production China, namely, to ask the seller directly for a quality certificate for the goods that he sells. And here there is a chance to find a worthy copy.

Without a quality certificate, issued in accordance with all the rules with seals and signatures, a product can be simply life-threatening.

Materials and cost of artificial Christmas tree

The cost of a Christmas tree directly depends on the material from which it is made: the worse it is, the more dangerous the tree and, accordingly, the cheaper it is.

According to the type of frame, artificial spruce trees are divided into two types:

• cast;
• from PVC film.

cast Christmas trees are produced mainly in Europe and cost a lot of money. Each branch of such a Christmas tree is cast in strict accordance with the approved technology, and the finished tree can last up to 50 years.

Christmas trees are the most widely represented on the Russian market PVC film, the frame of which is made of steel wire. They can also look quite nice and, but will last much less than cast ones.

According to the principle of assembling Christmas trees, there are also two types:

• In one case, each branch clings to the trunk with a hook. All branches of this design are marked, which is easy to understand.
• In the second case, all the branches are already fixed, and it is the parts of the tree trunk that need to be connected. This assembly option is simpler and faster and many times more expensive than the first.

As for the material from which the needles are made, a quality Christmas tree should have:

• fire resistant;
• have absolutely no ;
• the needles must be strong and easily return to their original position when deformed.

In this way, the cost of the Christmas tree varies depending on the frame, the method of assembly and the material from which the needles are made. A cast tree made of high-quality material can cost up to 3000 USD, but it will also serve more than one generation of your family at the New Year's celebration. The simplest spruce of good quality should not cost less than $400.

In truth, the million dollar Christmas tree was created by designer and jeweler Shoo Kee in Singapore. It took more than 20 thousand diamonds weighing more than 900 carats, as well as about 4 thousand crystal beads. So Shoo Ki decided to celebrate the next Christmas, not skimping at all on the main symbol of the holiday.

The shape and size of an artificial Christmas tree

After choosing a conscientious manufacturer, you can then fully rely on your taste, as well as the realities of the situation and the interior for which the Christmas tree is selected.

Currently, Christmas trees are produced in height from a few centimeters to 5 meters, with different density and sprawling branches.

If the Christmas tree is planned indoors just as an attribute of the upcoming holiday, for example, in the office, then a small tree that fits on the secretary's desk, or a low spruce with tightly pressed branches in the hall, is quite suitable, so as not to disturb anyone. If the Christmas tree will be used for its intended purpose, namely, it will hide gifts and will be the center of a round dance in a large apartment or on children's matinee, then, of course, it should be tall with wide spreading branches, as far as the room allows.

The smallest artificial Christmas tree was made a few years ago by a Japanese left-hander: the length of the white gold tree was 5 mm, and it was decorated gems. The work of the master is truly jewelry, because each emerald and diamond coincides with the previous one in size and shape.

Artificial Christmas tree color

Artificial Christmas trees can be not only different shades from dark green to emerald, because the increasing popularity Lately they acquire trees of flowers that have nothing to do with the natural color of forest spruce.

Artificial Christmas trees green color are bought, as a rule, for small children, in other cases, the tree bears the load of interior details or original gift. So, a pink Christmas tree can be presented to a beloved girl, and an orange one to a friend with red hair.

In addition, often the owner of the apartment wants his home to look original and stylish, so he acquires a Christmas tree without any needles or, say, acid colors. The same trend applies to youth hotels and hostels, designer offices, cafes and restaurants with an original style, etc. Thus, everyone has the right to choose a tree of any color, according to their tastes and goals.

Artificial Christmas tree lighting

Artificial Christmas trees are currently available in three types:

• without illumination;
• with LED backlight;
• with fiber optic lighting.

The first option is optimal for those who have a huge number of Christmas decorations and garlands, and most importantly - the time and desire to decorate the Christmas tree.

The other two options are suitable for those who do not want or cannot spend time decorating a Christmas tree, because Christmas trees with built-in lighting are beautiful without any additional effort and effort.

Christmas tree with LED lighting looks like it has a garland hanging on it. The bulbs on it can glow in one color, or they can shimmer at the request of the buyer.

artificial Christmas trees with fiber optic lighting, as a rule, are small in size and are placed on the kitchen table or on the desk in the office. Without being connected to the network, they look very simple and inconspicuous, but as soon as they are connected to the power supply, the tips of the branches begin to shimmer - in one color or all the colors of the rainbow, again at the request of the buyer.

Subject to the availability of a quality certificate, both lights are absolutely safe.

Video instruction for choosing a quality artificial Christmas tree

Thus, in order to choose a quality Christmas tree, you must first require a quality certificate from its manufacturer. Next, it is worth checking the Christmas tree for the absence of smell and brittleness of twigs and needles, and only then, if everything is fine in terms of safety, continue the choice based on the interior features of the apartment or office in which it will be located, as well as the tastes and preferences of the people whose Christmas tree will please.

An indispensable attribute of the New Year holiday is the Christmas tree. A few decades ago, consumers preferred to buy live trees, today they are increasingly choosing artificial ones that successfully imitate coniferous plants. In the manufacture of fir trees, manufacturers use first-class materials that are safe, durable and fire resistant. How to choose the right artificial Christmas tree so that the holiday is fun and without trouble, the experts of the Daughters and Sons online store will tell you.

What is the best material for an artificial Christmas tree?

Manufacturers offer models made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), fishing line (monofilament thread) and polyethylene (such spruces are called rubber spruce, because they feel similar to rubber and have the abbreviation PE in the name). Plastic trunks and branches are made from PVC. They are durable and fireproof. The needles are made from a monofilament thread, which is characterized by a pronounced elasticity, therefore it does not break. The needles look almost like the real thing.

Artificial Christmas trees and pine trees made of polyethylene (PE) have won popularity among buyers. Their branches and needles are difficult to distinguish from natural ones. Rubber products have a proportional crown, thick needles, no bald and crooked branches.

What material is better to buy artificial Christmas tree, it doesn’t really matter, the main thing is that the product is made in accordance with all the rules. A good model should:

• must have a certificate;
• be resistant to heat;
• do not provoke allergic reactions;
• differ in fire safety;
• Do not emit a strong synthetic smell.

A good option that meets all the requirements would be a plastic model from the Canadian brand Winter Wings. The product has a magnificent conical shape. Polyethylene branches and needles look like natural ones. Branches support the weight of many plastic and glass decorations

Table 1. Comparative characteristics of materials for the production of Christmas trees

Material	Peculiarities	Advantages
PVC	Elastic. Not resistant to melting at high temperatures. With strong heating, it can be a source of a pungent odor, low-quality products can release toxic compounds when exposed to temperature.	Holds the shape of needles and branches well. Due to the elasticity, the Christmas tree is convenient and easy to fluff. The product is not flammable, since PVC is slow-burning.
Rubber (polyethylene)	Does not heat up when exposed to temperatures up to 80 °C. Environmentally friendly and durable material. Softens at temperatures above 120°C.	The needles don't burn out. When heated, there is no smell. Accurately imitates natural branches and needles. You can decorate with light garlands of any power.

Important!

Artificial products are placed on stands. The most stable models are equipped with a plastic or metal stand for 3 or 4 legs. High Christmas trees, having a metal base on 4 legs, do not fall even without additional fixation. In addition, the metal latch will never break under any weight of spruce.

What are the best artificial Christmas trees?

The most durable and completely safe experts call artificial spruces made of plastic. Manufacturers offer products in various colors - green, silver, white and gray-green. You can choose a model made of polyethylene in any size - the height ranges from 30 to 300 cm.

For rooms with high ceilings, they acquire a lush outdoor spruce, which is assembled from almost 2000 branches. Despite the large diameter of the crown and the height of 210 cm, the design looks compact and attractive. In a small room, you can put a medium-sized decorative model.

conclusions

Which artificial Christmas tree is better, rubber or PVC, depends on the conditions of its operation. If the product will be decorated with garlands that heat up, it is better to choose a rubber model made of polyethylene. It is absolutely fireproof, does not emit odors and toxins, perfectly reproduces natural needles of pine and spruce.

On the threshold of the New Year and its celebration, according to a good tradition, is not complete without Christmas tree. After all, it is the elegant beauty, shining with multi-colored lights of garlands, that creates that magical, unique atmosphere of the holiday. Every year more and more families are acquiring artificial Christmas trees.

Today we will try to figure out what artificial Christmas trees are, what material they are made of and how to choose the right New Year's artificial beauty so that it will last for many years and delight you with its beauty.

What are the Christmas trees

In anticipation new year holidays a variety of models and types appear in stores Christmas trees from desktop, very tiny Christmas trees - to huge fir trees right up to the ceiling.

It can be pine, fir, blue spruce or ordinary spruce, with or without cones, covered with hoarfrost, with multi-colored bulbs built into the branches. Yes, and the color of an artificial Christmas tree can be any - from light green to dark emerald. On sale there are Christmas trees of any color, gold and silver, white and red, for every taste and color.

Artificial Christmas trees have a different design. Some types have a hinged structure and open like an umbrella, other trees are assembled from branches that are inserted onto the stem-trunk of the tree.

What are artificial Christmas trees made of?

Let's try to figure out what New Year's artificial beauties are made of.

Plastic molded Christmas trees

Artificial Christmas trees can be made of plastic, these are the so-called cast Christmas trees. They are very similar in appearance to real live Christmas trees. Branches with soft needles are made of polypropylene, and each branch is cast in a separate special mold.

Christmas trees made of PVC film

Artificial Christmas trees are also made from PVC film. From a thin polymer tape with a metal base inside, better Christmas trees are obtained. This tape is passed through machines that finely cut it into needles. Stripes with needles different lengths wind on a wire and create twigs that are collected into fluffy beautiful trees.

Artificial Christmas trees from fishing line

For the manufacture of the Christmas tree, a fishing line is used. A Christmas tree made of fishing line is more fluffy than a Christmas tree made of PVC film and is more similar to natural. Pine branches are also made from fishing line, which look like bottle brushes.

Christmas trees with paper needles

Needles for Christmas trees can be made of paper impregnated with a special composition. Paper needles are wound on a wire. Such an artificial Christmas tree has a short service life and is easily ignited, even from electric garlands.

How to choose the right artificial Christmas tree

Before you buy an artificial Christmas tree, you must choose a place where you will put your New Year's beauty - on the table, on the floor, by the window, in the center or in the corner of the room. And also decide on the type of tree (fir, spruce or pine) and size, you will have a small Christmas tree or a large spruce right up to the ceiling.

Christmas tree stand

The first thing you need to pay attention to when choosing an artificial Christmas tree is a stand. The stand can be metal, plastic or wood. If the tree is more than 150 cm, then the stand should be cruciform, stable, the Christmas tree should not stagger. A metal stand is considered more reliable. The plastic stand may break under the weight of the toys.

Christmas tree quality

Pay attention to how the branches are attached, they must be well fixed, the needles on the branches must also hold tight and be rigid. When choosing a Christmas tree, pull slightly on the needles, they should not come off. Run your palm along the twig against the growth of the needles, or squeeze the twig in your palm. High-quality needles will quickly take their original shape and will not crumble. The wire on which the branches are wound should not be translucent and stick out naked.

Fire safety

A high-quality Christmas tree should be made of fire-resistant materials or treated with special anti-flammable substances that prevent fire. On the packaging of the Christmas tree, such information must be present. After all, electric garlands are hung on the Christmas tree, and if the material from which the Christmas tree is made is flammable, then the consequences can be the most deplorable.

Environmental Safety

Environmental safety is one of the conditions right choice artificial trees. The tree should not exude an unpleasant chemical smell and should not contain substances harmful to health. To do this, you need to familiarize yourself with the quality certificate, ask the seller to show you this document.

Price

Prices for artificial Christmas trees are also very diverse. There are cheap Chinese Christmas trees with paper needles on sale, but it is advisable to refuse such a Christmas tree. Most often, these trees are sold without a certificate and can be made from materials that contain substances hazardous to health.

Molded plastic Christmas trees have a higher price, since the production of such Christmas trees is more expensive. Artificial cast Christmas trees are made in Europe, they are of high quality.

The most affordable price for artificial Christmas trees made of PVC, such Christmas trees are considered safe and look elegant.

The price of a Christmas tree also depends on the quality and strength of the structure, on the size, as well as on designer features in the form of cones, luminous twigs, multi-colored needles and other decorations. But an artificial Christmas tree is not bought for one year, and therefore it is better to buy a better product that will delight you for more than one year.

Since the 19th century, people began to use artificial Christmas trees - these were conical structures made from bird feathers or animal hair. Since 1960, people began to make them from synthetic materials.

How artificial Christmas trees are made

Russian markets were filled with Chinese Christmas trees, but 5 years ago Russian manufacturers took over their own production. A quarter of Russian Christmas trees are made in the village of Pirochi, Kolomna region.

The needles of the Christmas trees are made of polyvinyl chloride film - PVC. It comes from China, as they did not learn how to make it in Russia. The film is cut into strips of 10 cm wide, which are fixed on cutting machines. Next, the strips are cut so that the middle remains intact, and parallel cuts along the edges imitate needles on both sides. Next, the machine winds the needles on the wire.

There are Christmas trees that are made from fishing line. Packs of fishing line needles are wound on a wire using a special machine and a pine branch is obtained. Some branches are painted with latex paint at the ends, creating an imitation of snow. After the branches are twisted, making paws, they are attached to a metal frame. The frame is made in a metal shop from pipes, welded together. One huge Christmas tree is created on average in two days.

To choose a Christmas tree for your home, you need to know the criteria for choosing artificial Christmas trees and their types.

Types of artificial Christmas trees

Before choosing a Christmas tree, you need to decide on the type of structure, stand and material from which it will be made.

There are 3 types of tree designs:

1. Christmas tree constructor. It is disassembled into small parts: branches separately, the trunk is divided into several parts, the stand is removed separately.
2. Christmas tree-umbrella with a solid trunk. It is not disassembled, but folded by bending the branches to the trunk.
3. Christmas tree-umbrella with a collapsible trunk. The trunk is disassembled into 2 parts. The branches do not separate from the trunk.

The design of the stand is metal cruciform, wooden cruciform and plastic.

The Christmas tree can be made from:

• plastic;
• rubberized PVC;
• tinsel.

Trees differ in design. It can be:

• Canadian type;
• blue spruce;
• snowy;
• fluffy and soft;
• dense shimmering;
• imitation of natural.

Material and quality

The material must be of high quality, without foreign odors. You can check the strength of the needles and needles by running your hand from the end of the branch to the trunk and gently pulling on the needles. In a quality tree, the branch straightens out, and the needles do not crumble.

Paper trees are not suitable for long-term use.

It is necessary to pay attention to the quality of the wire, which fastens the branches to the trunk. It should be strong, and the branch should not hang out.

Color and shade

The Christmas tree can be not only green. Exotic lovers can find a New Year's beauty in yellow, silver, blue or red. The shade of green spruce can vary. Rubberized green Christmas trees from a distance of 5 meters can not be distinguished from the real one. They are suitable for nature lovers.

Frame rack

You need to choose the right stand on which the tree will stand. If you have pets or small children, it is better to choose a metal cruciform design. It is more durable than plastic.

fire resistance

The most fire hazardous are Christmas trees made of tinsel. They are highly flammable and can burn out in minutes. Plastic products do not burn, but melt. Christmas trees made of PVC smoke a lot and have a pungent pungent odor when smoldering.

When is the best time to buy a tree?

If you want to buy a good quality Christmas tree inexpensively, buy it 2 weeks after the New Year. At this time, prices fall sharply and sellers tend to get rid of them faster. The same Christmas tree will cost 2-3 times more if you buy it a week before the New Year.