Your house plants can travel for up to three days without needing any care if you properly follow our moving-plant recommendations.
BEFORE YOUR MOVE
To prepare your plants for relocating so they can withstand changes in their environment without withering or breaking, follow these instructions:
- three weeks before the actual move. Plants should be repotted from clay pots into equivalent-sized, shatterproof plastic containers.
- two weeks before the actual move. With your thumb and forefinger, pinch back younger growth on larger plants while you remove dead leaves, branches, and blossoms with scissors or gardening shears. Plants that have been pruned will be more manageable and transportable. After your move, it will also produce gorgeous, bushy, healthy plants. Never cut down ferns or succulents (e.g., cactus, jade plants, aloe).
- one week before the actual move. Verify plants for parasites and insects. Apply pesticides with caution and according to label instructions. Have a plan for donating or disposing of any pesticides before relocating since they are on our list of prohibited products.
- two days before the actual move. Regularly water your plants, being careful not to overwater. In cold weather, too much water can cause plants to freeze, while in warm weather, it can encourage the growth of fungi.
MOVING DAY
Pack your plants the night before or the morning of your relocation to get ready. Following are some moving plant packing tips:
- Wrap. To stop branches from breaking, wrap big plants in tissue paper or an old bed sheet.
- Position. A box should fit each pot tightly at the bottom. Use standard moving boxes, such as dish packs, that are offered by your Atlas mover.
- Pack. If required, lay paper around the pot’s base in the box to keep it in place. To allow plants to breathe, poke holes in the box’s sides and loosely fasten the lid.
- Label. Mark the top and sides of the boxes using a sharpie. This will lessen the chance of their accidently being loaded onto the moving truck.
- Control. Ensure that the inside of your car is at a comfortable temperature. Your plants might suffer from extreme cold or heat.
ONCE YOU’RE HOME
It’s crucial to restore your plants to the state they were in at your former residence once you’ve settled into your new one. This is how:
- Unpack. Plants should be unpacked as soon as feasible. To avoid breaking, remove the plants through the bottom of the box.
- Place. Repot plants in containers that are the same size as the ones you had before moving.
- Stabilize. Plants should not be moved until they have acclimated.
- Heal. Give your plant a few days to recover if it experiences transplant shock as a result of your transfer. Follow the advice in “Common Household Plants and How to Care for Them” if your plant still seems unwell.
To avoid breaking leaves and branches, remove the plants through the bottom of the box.
Your plants will transfer successfully if you plan ahead and pay close attention. They’ll be prepared to thrive in their new home, just like you.
When you relocate, are your plants transportable?
The largest manufacturer of high-quality gardening tools in Europe, Gardena, is a partner in this article. They’ve supplied me their AquaRoll M Hose Trolley, a comfort sprayer, and the NatureUp! vertical planter over the course of the summer. To assist me with the transfer, they provided me their Balcony Basic Set this month.
Plan(t) ahead
If you rent a property, you’ll probably need to return it in the same condition you found it. So, happy days, digging up your plants is definitely expected. Before putting your house on the market, either dig up your plants or bargain. Inform the estate agent and/or potential purchasers that you might want to take your cherished roses or plants with sentimental significance with you. It shouldn’t be a problem as long as it is made clear and the garden is cleaned up afterward.
Since May, we have been aware that a change was imminent. After years of renting, we recently purchased our first home. Thankfully, I have an allotment, so I have been progressively relocating plants there in order to get ready. Move your plants well in advance of moving into a new home if you have access to the new garden, your own allotment, or a communal garden. Plants should be dug up in advance and placed in pots if you don’t have access to a location where you may plant them in situ. If temporarily planted in large containers, even some trees and plants will do well.
When you can’t take your plants with
There are at least three reasons why you are not allowed to bring your plants with you. The first could be brought about by limits on plants and the export and import of plants. Moving plants from one place to another is prohibited in various US states as well. The fact that your plants have become too established is another reason you might not be able to take them with you. Lavender and rosemary shrubs that are ten years old could make a shift, but it might only be successful in the dormant season.
You would also need to leave your plants because you had sold them. If you included a stunning garden when you listed your home, the buyer will anticipate it on moving day. When selling your plants, be completely honest and upfront to avoid any misunderstandings. If you take plants without telling the owner, especially if plants are listed on the contents list, you may potentially encounter legal problems. If you wish to relocate your garden when you move, be incredibly explicit and honest about it.
Moving a container garden
Even in the middle of the growing season, moving a container garden is rather simple. I would simply advise prudence with regard to weight. Those pots will weigh a lot if it has been raining. Your back will thank you if you can put them somewhere to air out a bit.
A container garden is quite simple to move. If it’s the height of summer and they are bursting with fragile growth, you might wish to relocate them with them wrapped in bubble wrap, fabric, or straw. A little space between the pots will prevent them from bumping into one another and breaking.
The plants will be dormant throughout the winter, making transferring them considerably simpler. Just don’t keep them in a warm spot for too long—you don’t want to create the mistaken sense that spring is just around the corner. If you’re short on room, you could even stack pots when the plant is dormant and below the soil line.
Modular containers
My Gardena NatureUp! vertical planter was one of the things I could move the quickest. Because it is modular, each component can be removed and then put back together—even if there are plants growing within. You may either relocate them with compost inside, as you’ll see in my greenhouse video further up, or you can empty them. They can be put back together just as easily, therefore it doesn’t matter. Even though I currently have the planter in the greenhouse, I intend to hang it on the wall in the next spring. I like that I can move it around from house to house and have several setups in a single household. To assist with the transfer, Gardena sent me this Balcony Basic Tool Set and some gardening gloves.
Moving van
Make sure that the plant containers can’t topple over as you pack your moving van with plants. It helps to wedge them as closely as you can. Put some cushioning between if you’re concerned they’ll break. For quick journeys, like my most recent move, a disorganized moving van setup is adequate. I squeezed the plants, the BBQ, and the gardening tools into the same area. Everything arrived safely.
You should use greater caution when choosing packing plants if you’re relocating farther away, like across the nation. Make sure the soil is moist, the containers and leaves are secure, and nothing is likely to topple over if you have to hit the brakes hard.
Low light conditions
As long as you provide plants with at least some light, they can survive in semi-darkness for a few days. If you’ve ordered any plants from a garden center, you’ll be aware that they commonly send them in the mail with instructions to be unpacked right away. The majority of the time, they’re just fine, and darkened vans are no different.
If you’re traveling over many days, periodically opening the back of the van will ensure that leafy plants receive enough sunshine to make it during the journey. It’s probably a good idea to feed them and provide them with plenty of water first. Garden plants may need some care when they are relocated to a new location.
Take cuttings
If you are unable to take existing plants, you may take cuttings instead. Even tomatoes and rosemary grow quickly from seed. Cuttings can also be used to grow a variety of fruit bushes. Simply removing a portion of a parent plant and helping it to develop roots is known as taking a cutting. Compared to their larger mothers, these little rooted plants will be much easier to relocate. The best part is that you can take numerous cuttings for free to grow additional plants.
Give things away
Whatever your circumstance, you will have to give stuff away when you move. While getting ready to relocate, you can come across a hidden stash of old plant pots. Alternatively, it’s possible that your new garden is smaller than your old one.
Give your friends care of your plants, and sell or give other products to people who need them. There are a few recycling facilities nearby with designated sections for plastic plant pots. All of my extras are available for other people to use. Take your extra plants and gardening equipment to any seed exchanges or plant sharing events that are scheduled around the time you move. Getting ready to move is a fantastic time to organize the garden shed!
Are house plants mobile-friendly?
Mistake #5: Constantly shifting your plant. For your plant to successfully adjust to its new environment, stability is crucial. Repotting, moving rooms, and other changes might upset a plant’s equilibrium. Moving your plant around too much is bad. The best course of action is generally nothing if your plant doesn’t display any signs of unhappiness. Also keep in mind that extreme changes in humidity or temperature might be harmful.
Water the Plants
The day before you intend to lift the garden plants, water the ones that will be dug up and/or moved. When it’s time to transplant, the entire plant will be properly hydrated thanks to this. Make sure the roots receive a thorough, deep soaking so they can absorb as much water as possible. You’ll be able to dig more easily in moist dirt.
Allow the roots of any specimen you are planting to soak in water for a few hours in a bucket before planting (roses and some trees are sometimes marketed this way).
Choose the Right Time
When it is cloudy or in the colder nighttime hours, it is preferable to dig up and transplant garden plants. This will allow the plant to acclimate to its new location during the entire night before being exposed to the heat and intense sunlight of the day. This is particularly crucial when moving young seedlings.
Water the Plant One More Time
Water the plant lightly once more right away before digging it up or removing it from its container. So that the dirt will attach to the roots after it is dug from the garden, you want the earth around the rootball to be thoroughly moist. By doing this, the roots are shielded from the drying winds.
Dig and Water the Transplant Hole
Dig the hole that will hold your plant using a shovel or trowel. Before inserting the transplant, hydrate the hole. You want the ground to be so soaked that it becomes mud. Puddling is another term for this.
Lift the Plant
Just before transferring a plant to a new site, carefully dig up the plant that needs to be transported (or take it from its nursery container). It’s ideal to dig up the plant in a way that keeps the majority of the soil still clinging to the roots, with the exception of situations when you are dividing the roots for propagation purposes.
Never leave the roots out in the wind, light, or heat. Although it may be tempting to remove all of the plants from their pots and set them where you want them in the garden when planting nursery specimens, the roots will quickly dry up. Just before planting, remove each plant.
Gardening Tip
Examine the root ball after removing the plant from the container if you’re planning to transplant it for the first time into your garden. Cut several slits in the roots or shake them loose with your fingers if the root ball is extremely tightly formed and “root-bound.” This will facilitate fast root emergence after planting.
Place the Transplant
After inserting the transplant, filling the hole halfway with earth, water it once more. After letting the water settle the dirt around the roots, complete the hole filling.
Backfill and Lightly Pack the Soil
Firm up the dirt a little bit around the transplant. The objective is to eliminate any air pockets without overly compacting the soil. Rather than pushing with your hand or foot, let the water settle the situation.
Water Again
Water the entire plant once more, leaves and all. You would be shocked at how much water can evaporate throughout the planting process, despite the fact that this undoubtedly sounds like too much water. You can get away with using a bit less water if you are working on a chilly, calm, gloomy day, but never miss the last watering after the plant has been planted.
Shield the Plant
Protect the fresh transplant from the sun for three to five days, if at all feasible. To shield the transplant from the sun, place a floating row cover there or stow a board in front of it. The need for this method is greatest when transplanting seedlings from nursery packets or plants cultivated in containers. Plants that are mature and established and being moved from one area of the garden to another are often fully hardened and will withstand the move rather readily.
After transplanting, it’s frequently a good idea to pinch off the flower buds and blooms to encourage the plant to focus its energy on developing its roots. For some species, it may even be a good idea to cut back on the green growth in order to reduce the stress placed on the plant as it establishes itself.
Care for the Transplant
For the first few weeks, check the plant every single day. In warmer weather, transplants might need to be watered twice daily in addition to everyday. More water will be required for a plant whose size is greater or whose root-to-top growth ratio is lower. If more water is required, check the soil a few inches below the surface for dryness. Water the plant right away if it starts to wilt.