And when I say take care, I mean what is the best way to keep it alive for the longest period of time?

water it everyday, keep it in a cool dark place away from heating vents

Just make sure there is always a lot of water in the holder and keep it away from hot dry areas otherwise the needles will dry out and fall off.

just water it everyday. ours lasts from right after thanksgiving to after new years. good luck. :-)

They sell this stuff and you put it in the water whenever you whatever the christmas tree. Ours usually stays alive for a month, sometimes more.