Flocking a Christmas tree simply refers to the process by which people capture the real wintery feeling via a generous dusting of artificial snow. In the mid-1900s, Christmas trees were flocked with materials like cotton, cornstarch, and flour. These days, trees can be purchased pre-flocked or modern-day ingredients can be used. The flocked artificial Christmas tree looks like it just came in from the outdoors, snow, and all. It can have the appearance of delicately frosted branches or heavily laden boughs.
The Flocking Process: How to DIY Your Own Flocked Christmas Tree
To flock your Christmas tree yourself, prepare a space with a drop cloth and enough room to create a bit of mess. Safety precautions must be taken by wearing a mask or goggles and gloves to keep from ingesting the flocking solution. Once you are ready to start the process, full a spray bottle with water and start with one section of the tree by misting the needles. Once the needles are damp, sprinkle the flocking onto the tree. After repeating this sequence for all sections, let the tree dry for a few hours or overnight, before adding lights or ornaments.
Many people prefer to but pre-flocked trees because the application can get messy, and the entire experience night take some trial and error. It is advisable to start off from the back if the tree to make sure it lasts, it should look like a thick, wet paste when first applied. If enough water is not added, the flocking will simply fall right off. To rid a free of flocking, you apply the same procedure by wetting the tree and rubbing off the flocking from the needles.
You can decide to adorn your tree or leave it natural and let the flocking do the talking. In storing the tree, cover it with sturdy plastic wraps or bags to maintain its flocking.