They don’t actually keep the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree “alive” in the long‑term sense—once it’s cut, it’s essentially a very carefully maintained cut tree that is kept looking fresh for the holiday season, then repurposed afterward.

What kind of tree it is

  • The Rockefeller tree is almost always a large Norway spruce, typically 69–100 feet tall, chosen from private property in the U.S. each year.
  • Once selected, it is cut down at its original site, so it is no longer a living, rooted tree by the time it arrives in Manhattan.

How they keep it looking fresh

  • After cutting, the tree is supported by a crane, then placed on a custom telescoping trailer and transported to Rockefeller Center, where it is mounted in a large stand with supports.
  • Organizers maintain the tree with regular watering, and because it is outdoors in cold winter air (rather than a heated home), it retains its freshness better and does not dry out as quickly.

How long it stays up

  • The lighting usually happens in early December and the tree stays on display until early to mid‑January, so the care is focused on keeping it presentable for just those few winter weeks.
  • During that time, its role is decorative; it is treated as a cut Christmas tree on a grand scale, not as a living urban tree that will continue growing.

What happens after the holidays

  • Since 2007, after the season ends, the tree is milled into lumber and donated to Habitat for Humanity to be used in building homes, giving the wood a second life instead of discarding it.
  • This reuse has become a recurring part of the Rockefeller tree’s story, emphasizing sustainability and community benefit once its display life is over.

TL;DR: The Rockefeller tree is cut, set in a massive stand, watered, and helped by cold outdoor air to stay looking “alive” for a few weeks—then it’s turned into lumber for Habitat for Humanity, rather than kept growing.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.