" We cut a fress Christmas tree a couple of weeks ago at a local tree
farm; it is a Balsam Fir. Since this tree was huge, by the time I set
it up, I ended up cutting about one foot off the bottom and 6 inches
from the top. The important thing is that it was a fresh cut just
before I put up the tree and filled the tree holder pan with water.

This tree will not drink water. Is it becasue it is a fresh tree and
doesn't need it?

How long was it from cutting to putting into water? Two weeks? Once a tree
is cut, it should be put into fairly deep water (I use a bucket) to start it
drinking the day it is cut. The base should be recut another 1/2 inch or so
to expose fresher wood, immediately upon getting the tree home, with a 1/4
inch bevel cut around the base along the bark, using a very sharp utility
knife, to expose phloem/xylem channels. I use a flat stone or gravel to keep
tree base off bottom of bucket. Once tree is stored in shady cool place like
this, it can be moved whenever you like into the house, even weeks later,in
a bucket style tree base with righting bolts. While outside, it should be
topped off daily. It will drink like crazy for several days, then slow down
markedly by the end of a week, but by that time the tree will be hydrated
and resist drying once it is inside.