According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in the United States, you can transport plants on airplanes. The TSA permits both carry-on and checked luggage to contain plants. However, you should be aware that the on-duty TSA personnel have the authority to refuse anything and will decide what you can bring through security.
When traveling abroad or to Hawaii, it is more difficult to bring plants on a plane. Make sure to do your study well in advance to determine whether any licenses are necessary and to learn whether any plants need to be quarantined or banned. If you want further details, get in touch with the nation’s agriculture department.
How are air plants transported?
Plants are permitted on planes, according to the TSA (Transport Security Administration). As long as they adhere to the airline’s size and weight requirements and the soil doesn’t contain too much liquid, you can pack them safely inside checked baggage or hand luggage. The 3-1-1 rule for liquids prohibits carrying plants and saplings in hand luggage with their roots wet in water, regardless of how moist the soil is.
Your plant must meet the carry-on size restrictions, which are typically 22 x 14 x 9 inches, in order to be brought as hand luggage. Plants larger than that will need to be checked in because the overhead compartments are too small for them. To prevent any damage, it would be advisable to pack your plant inside a hardside suitcase that has been checked in. You should be able to fit some very big plants inside checked bags because they typically have a length limit of 32 inches.
To get through security, plants must be scanned in the x-ray machine. It is preferable to leave your plant at home if you don’t want it to be scanned because screening all of your products is required. Only a select few items, such as baby food or prescription medication, are permitted for manual examination.
Additionally, TSA is only in charge of American airspace. If you’re traveling abroad, you should also consider what other airline regulators have to say in addition to what the airlines themselves are saying. Although we searched, we couldn’t identify a single airline or aviation authority that had prohibited plants on airplanes, so you’re probably good to go. Be sure to read the following two sections on going abroad vs. domestically because customs and immigration are the only institutions with tight restrictions for plants.
Can you carry a plant in a pot and fly?
TSA personnel have seen it all by this point, so they most likely won’t even raise an eyebrow if they see a traveler carrying a plant through screening. Passengers are permitted to bring plants either as carry-on items or in checked luggage, according to the TSA. Plants must go through security screening just like the rest of your possessions. Prepare to put them on the conveyor belt for X-rays together with the rest of your carry-on luggage.
Can you bring plants abroad on a plane?
To keep their plants from drying out while traveling, people can wrap them in wet newspaper or other similar material. A plastic bag can be used to contain the roots. When bringing 13 or more plants, travelers must get an import permission from APHIS and mail or ship the plants to the closest USDA Plant Inspection Station.
Can you take a plant on a Delta flight?
Perishable goods, both edible and non-edible, are permitted as carry-on luggage as long as they don’t violate the destination country’s agricultural regulations. Fresh or frozen foods, including fruits and vegetables, are examples of perishable goods.
How do plants traverse huge distances?
As people who love plants, we occasionally have to deal with the fairly delicate task of transporting houseplants. Perhaps you want to give away all those stray propagations you started as gifts this Christmas season. Perhaps you should relocate to a different state with your collection. Or perhaps, while on the road, you stop by a little nursery for a “quick peak” and discover the Philodendron of your dreams there.
In any event, whether you’re relocating or giving plants as gifts, here are some useful pointers for keeping your plants secure on their voyage.
Traveling with Houseplants
It is wise to give your houseplants a little attention a week or two prior to your intended trip so that they are prepared for the environmental changes they will experience. Like us, plants lead busy lives in search of nourishment and fulfillment, yet they move far more slowly and necessitate patience and gentle handling from their caretakers. Always leave enough time between major changes to give your plant a chance to adjust. Stress can be caused by too much change or stimulation at once, which can restrict or stop a plant’s growth, cause leaf loss, or make it more vulnerable to pests and illnesses.
Start by grooming and trimming a little before packing your houseplants. Dead or damaged leaves should be removed. Trim lengthy vines or stems that are particularly wandering if your plant has them to make movement easier. To save weight and lower the possibility of shattering pottery, think about repotting plants in plastic nursery pots. Dust the foliage gently with a damp cloth (or a gentle paintbrush for velvety or hairy foliage) and apply pest control measures as necessary.
Very thirsty plants, like ferns, can be watered the day before the trip (or early the same day if it’s hot). Water more moderate plants a few days in advance to ensure that the soil is just moderately moist during transportation. Keep in mind that root rot is most likely in moist soil in a dark, cool environment.
It can be comforting to know that traveling with houseplants is very similar to traveling with animals if you find the idea intimidating. Keep your vehicle cool on hot days and warm on winter days (see below for more details about how temperature affects travelling with houseplants).
Treat your plants like a dog if you must leave them in the car on a hot day. When parking in the shade, open the window, and hurry back from your business. If cleanliness is an issue, a shower curtain or sheet will shield your car from mud and dampness. Extra newspapers, paper towels, and a watering can or bottle should be brought along.
This Ficus lyrata is ready to embark on a trip that is definitely dangerous. It’s best to simply bring along plants that you can accommodate!
Using strong boxes is the safest way to pack your plants. Make sure the boxes are as stable as possible by placing them on the floor or on seats rather than the trunk or open truck bed. Plants can be nestled inside of them, but any loose vines should be lifted and gently spooled on top. If you intend to cover them, make air holes and stuff pots lightly with newspaper. If it’s a particularly hot day, you can load the pots with sphagnum moss or lightly dampened newspaper to keep the plants cool and humid in the heated, dry interior of your car.
Large pots can be placed in garbage bags along with exceptionally large specimens to prevent spills, but make sure to leave a small opening at the top of the bag so the soil can breathe. For very delicate or priceless specimens, a bird cage, dog box, or cat carrier may be useful. These buildings will be shielded from bright light by a sheer cloth.
Your plants should, in theory, be exposed to light every day, but they risk getting burned in the sun on a hot day. Unless the weather is constantly cloudy, keep boxes covered. Finding a parking space with bright, indirect light to stop and remove the lid is a good idea at rest breaks.
Make sure to bring indoor plants with you at night on longer travels. A tropical plant can easily be killed or seriously damaged by spending one night in a cold car. If plants in hotel sinks or bathtubs start to dry up, water them lightly. You can keep them in a hotel tub with the bathroom light (or a grow light brought from home) left on overnight to help make up the difference if they need to be covered during the day due to a lengthy journey.
Just like their human co-pilots, plants can benefit from seatbelts by staying in place while driving!
If you are relocating your collection over state boundaries, never forget to examine the specific requirements of each state first. California, Arizona, and Florida are some states with a reputation for having stricter rules. You might not be able to bring your plants into Canada if you’re vacationing there. Be sure to review the most recent laws and standards pertaining to declaring plant material here.
Houseplants are often acceptable in your carry-on or checked bags as long as they adhere to the baggage regulations, while each airline has its own set of requirements. However, if you want to travel with houseplants, be ready to take them out of their packaging for inspection and to put them through the x-ray machine with the rest of your belongings.
To prevent soil spilling, wrap the plant or the pot in plastic. Alternatively, to be extra safe, maintain plants “bare root” (in some situations, this may be legally required as soil can harbor foreign insects). To do this, carefully remove the plant from its pot, tease away any extra soil with your fingertips, and then gently rinse the roots in warm water to get rid of the remaining soil. For the travel, wrap the roots with wet moss or paper towels, then repot them as soon as you arrive.
In most circumstances, taking houseplants on a trip within the contiguous United States won’t be an issue, however going abroad or abroad can be more challenging. Regulating which plants are permitted to cross international boundaries is frequently the responsibility of national agriculture departments. These regulations must be followed since even a single invasive plant or bug can have a long-lasting negative impact on fragile ecosystems and agricultural economies.
There are stringent agricultural limitations in some US territories, such as Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Some living plants can be carried inside, but the majority must be bare-rooted, and some of them may be invasive. Before planning to transport plants over international (and, in some cases, state) boundaries, make sure to familiarize yourself with the laws of the departure and destination sites. To learn about possible charges and permits, get in touch with the agriculture department of your intended destination nation. For further information, see the US Customs & Border Protection website.
What if you’re not traveling yourself but merely want to give plants to relatives and friends? We’re not to blame; plants make wonderful presents. Here are some pointers for mailing houseplants.
- Keep shipping simple by merely sending plants in their plastic nursery pots, or think about sending bare-root plants (see above for instructions). Before shipping, water the soil so that it is damp but not drenched.
- To stop the plant from shifting and creating a mess in the box, cover the soil at its base. Newspapers often adhere well to tape.
- Wrap the plant with butcher paper or newspaper to form a sleeve. To prevent the foliage from being bent or crumpled during this process, it is helpful to lay the plant on its side or completely invert it before sleeving.
- A box that is only slightly bigger than the plant you are transporting will work best. Place the plant inside and secure it with crumpled paper, peanuts (we prefer the biodegradable variety), shredded newspaper, or anything else to prevent it from shifting while being transported. Shake the package gently before closing it. Do you notice any internal plant movement? Reapply extra insulating material as necessary. The same guidelines apply if you are shipping numerous plants in the same box.
- Your plant can freeze in transit throughout the winter. In our packages, we include hot packs. To prevent your package from sitting out on a hot or chilly porch, avoid sending during heat waves and always let the recipient know when to expect their box.
- Houseplants should be sent via USPS Priority, which takes a maximum of 3 days to arrive. For areas like California that have agricultural limitations, always mark your box “contains live plants” so that mail carriers are aware to handle it carefully.
How do you handle plants while traveling?
We’re giving our best advice for keeping your houseplants happy and healthy while you’re away, whether it’s a long weekend at the beach or a month abroad.
Preparing your plants just takes a short amount of time, freeing you up to concentrate on other important things like a nice book and an effective sunscreen.
Tips to Keep Plants Alive While You’re Away
1. Modify the lighting and climate
Your plant will eventually become more thirsty the more sunlight it receives. This is due to a number of factors, but the main one is that plants use the most water when they transpire, a process whose rate depends on and rises with the quantity of sunshine the plant receives.
Therefore, your plant will require more water the more natural light it receives. You can move your plants a little bit further away from their source of natural light to prevent them from wilting while you’re away due to a lack of water. Place them in the center of the room to prevent them from drying out as quickly as normal from the heat and light from the windows. You can relocate your plants back to their original location when you get home. Draw a sheer drape over the window as an alternative if you don’t want to move the plants.
You can choose to leave your plants in their current location if they weren’t getting enough light to begin with because of blocked windows or the time of year. Asking yourself how frequently you need to water a plant can help you decide whether to move it if you’ll be gone for an extended amount of time. If you need to water it once a week, for example. However, if it happens every other week, there might be no need to move them.
Additionally, never leave a heating or cooling system on or close to a houseplant, whether you’re at home or away. A/Cs and heaters, while a luxury for people, tend to deprive your interior environment of the humidity that most tropical plants require.
2. Preserve moisture
Watering your plants properly before leaving is sufficient if you’re only going to be gone for a week or less. Make sure you only water plants in potting soil that is dry or nearly dry. In order to keep the potting soil moist without letting your plants sit in a saucer of water, which could attract bugs or cause root rot, let any excess water drain from your potted plant before you leave the house.
Keep in mind that only plants that require weekly or more of watering require this. Succulents and cacti are examples of indoor plants that may survive without water for a week or two. Additionally, since plant development slows and some plants fall dormant in the winter, you can completely forgo watering them.
There are a few strategies to prepare your plants if you expect to be gone for longer than a week. Depending on the length of your trip, the type of plant, and the season, try one or more of the suggestions listed below.
Keep in mind: How frequently do I typically water this plant at this time of year? You don’t want to overwater your plants before you leave because you won’t be home to watch over them!
1. To assist hold moisture before or after giving dry soil a good soak, sprinkle lava rocks, mulch, or wood chips on top of the soil surrounding your plant. Newspaper that is damp will also work. Longer soil moisture retention will result from this.
2. To create a temporary greenhouse, thoroughly water your plant, and then cover with a clear plastic bag that hangs just below the lip of the planter. To ensure that there is enough airflow because plants also require oxygen, make sure to cut a few gaps in the plastic. Hold the bag up and away from the vegetation using sticks (or old chopsticks). Make sure that the bag is not in contact with any vegetation.
3. Place small rocks down the bottom of a shallow tray and add water to the tray, just below the top of the rocks. Placing your planter atop the rocks The planter’s base should be directly above the idle water rather than touching or resting directly in it. The levels of humidity and moisture will rise as a result, but neither overwatering nor root rot should result.
4. Move your humidity-loving plants, such as ferns and air plants, to your bathroom or another small room and arrange them in a group there (assuming you have a window that gets some natural light). Your plants will have an easier time maintaining humidity and moisture in a smaller space.
5. Construct a self-watering system yourself using empty bottles or capillary wicks:
Choose the size of the water container based on how long you’ll be away before placing one end of the capillary wick in a basin of water and the other end in the potting soil of your plant. While you’re away, your plant will get the water it requires through the wick. (Our staff prefers this approach for prolonged absences from our plants.)
By adding water and puncturing the bottle top, you can recycle used plastic or glass bottles. Ensure that the hole is small enough to permit a gradual release of water over time. Turn the filled bottle upside down and insert the perforated bottle top all the way into the potting soil of your plant.
6. Speak with a friend. If a friend is willing to water your houseplants for you while you’re away for a long time (more than a month), please accept their offer! Give your friend written directions that are simple to follow, or guide them through your daily care routine a week or two in advance. If you want them to send you photo updates while you’re away, we won’t pass judgment. Just be sure to bring them something as a memento (or send them a new plant as a thank you when you return.)
3. Omit using fertilizer
If you fertilize your indoor plants sometimes, wait to fertilize them after your trip until you get back. In the weeks leading up to your trip, avoid fertilizing your plants. While you’re away, you want your plants to grow as slowly as possible to help them preserve water and energy.
4. Execute some little trimming
You can also cut off any buds or flowers since they typically need more frequent waterings to keep healthy in addition to any dead, decaying, or unappealing foliage.
Pro tip: Tropical plants are the main beneficiaries of the aforementioned tips, especially the techniques for “watering” while away. Drought-tolerant plants, such as some succulent kinds, ZZ plants, or snake plants, can survive for almost a month without water, especially if they are placed out of direct sunlight. Succulent plants are the perfect houseplant for frequent travelers.
Give yourself a big pat on the back when you come home to happy and healthy houseplants, no matter what precautions you take. They also missed you.