1. Pack your plants in plain boxes if you’re just relocating across town. Make sure to use newspaper to protect the pots’ sides. Place the plants in the car, then drive to your new residence.
2. Fill the top of each container with sphagnum moss for taller plants. Each pot should be wrapped with plastic and fastened with tape or twine. The plant can then be turned over in the car without potting mix spilling out and creating a mess.
3. Before loading plants if you’re traveling in the winter, cover them with newspaper. Extreme cold exposure for even a brief period of time will harm them. Load your plants while the car is in the garage if your garage is attached to your home.
4. It can be challenging to transport plants over great distances by car. If you plan on stopping for numerous overnight stays along the trip, it can be particularly difficult. Treat your plants the same way you would your pets if you insist on doing it: Don’t let them become too hot or too cold. If you plan to leave them in the car for longer than an hour, keep the windows cracked and make sure they have access to ample water.
5. You can arrange for the shipping of plants through ground or air. There are no promises, though, and shipping can be costly. Choose three of your favorite plants, transfer them however you like if you’re relocating a great distance, then sell the remaining plants and use the proceeds to buy new plants for your new home.
How should indoor plants be moved when moving?
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.
How can houseplants be moved without harming them?
control. Here’s how to be ready for shipment with USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
- Take plants out of their containers.
- I need a haircut! Trim the roots and any dead leaves.
- In a damp paper towel, enclose the roots. Then cover once again with plastic. For added security, secure it with tape or a rubber band.
- To prevent it from shifting during transport, secure the plant in a box with plenty of newspaper and bubble cushioning roll.
- Pro tip: To make your box more stable, add weight to the bottom.
- Stickers for fragile, live plants, and this end up should be added to your box.
- Wish your flora-friend luck on their upcoming voyage.
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.
How do you transport a big indoor plant in a pot?
Small plants should not be tipped over or have their ceramic pots broken when being moved. Consider just wrapping the container and leaving the plant alone. Lack of time to wrap? Put the pots close together in a nest. Put your plants in a box with the lid open so you can always see where they are. Since they are the most delicate item, pack them last and stack them on top of other boxes. Better better, put them in the driver’s seat and, depending on the time of year, provide your plants with either warming heat or cooling air conditioning. Make sure to bundle your small plants carefully in a box lined with newspaper if you decide to have them delivered to your new address. If your plants’ tops are delicate, cushion them with tissue paper or newspaper shreds. Label the box’s “up side and note that its contents are fragile so that the delivery person can handle it with care. For small, robust plants like snake plants, mailing is an excellent alternative; however, it is not the best method for delicate orchids. Moving hanging plants is simplest because you can probably hang them in the front seat. It is feasible to ship them over further distances, but there may be a considerable danger of damage.
You should follow the same procedures you would when transferring tiny plants when transporting large plants. To prevent spills during the transport, try taping cardboard over the soil. Taller plants may become somewhat slanted or uprooted, so you’ll need to replant them once they’ve settled into their new location. To protect your pots from dents, wrap them in newspaper. Make sure no other boxes can accidently slip and crush your plants on the drive over if you are transporting large plants that do not fit up front. To keep items compact for transportation, using string to bind spreading parts together.
How are plants transported from one city to another?
It’s advisable to move your plants by yourself, without a doubt. Finding some sturdy boxes, lining them with cloth or plastic, and finally placing your plant inside are all that are required. For cushioning, you must place foam or bubble wrap between the pot and the box.
How are plants long distance moved?
Making any significant move is stressful enough, but when you include actual live things like pets and plants, the stress of moving becomes even more difficult to manage. Have you thought about how to care for your plant buddies while moving? You may already be planning on how to keep pets content during the move.
Here are some excellent tips for keeping your plants happy and healthy on the lengthy journey to a new home.
Plant preparation. Remove all dead leaves and branches from your plants a few weeks before the relocation, and give them a good pruning. Dust, vermin, and weeds should be removed one week prior to your move.
Pot again in plastic. Take plants out of their heavy pots and planters a few weeks before your move and give them new homes in lightweight plastic pots to make transporting plants easier on your body.
Keep an eye on the weather. Transporting plants in a temperature-controlled space, such as your automobile, is preferable. Bring your plants inside with you if you spend the night at a motel (this is especially important if the weather is unusually warm or cold).
Provide the correct amount of water to them. Plants do not like the mix of cold and wet or hot and dry. Plants have a difficult time remaining comfortable, even in an air-conditioned vehicle. Water plants thoroughly on moving day and during your trip if you are moving in the summer. If you’re traveling in the winter, water your plants one last time a few days before you leave to keep the soil dry.
learn the law. Check with customs if you’re relocating to a new country to be sure you can bring your plants with you; some nations won’t permit particular species over their borders. Moving across states necessitates some planning as well; due to pest control measures and regional restrictions on growing specific plants, the US Department of Agriculture mandates inspections of plant materials crossing some state lines. Although California is known for being particularly stringent with its botanical visitors, other states also inspect plants upon arrival (a chart is available on this page).
Avoid depending on relocation companies. Many moving firms decline to carry plants with the rest of your household due to the aforementioned laws as well as potential liabilities. Be careful, too, because packing up your plants and having the movers transport them unwittingly could breach your agreement with them and void any insurance you may have for damage to your other equipment during the move.
Post them. You can mail plants ahead of you, but there is undoubtedly a risk to their health. Plants should be removed from their containers, with the roots pruned and the root ball wrapped in a moist cloth and then plastic. Put the entire plant in a strong, new box and secure it with lots of newspaper and bubble wrap (seriouslyfill every space in the box and lock that thing down). Send the box on its way with plenty of “Fragile,” “Live Plant,” and “This End Up” stickers after adding some weight to the bottom of the box, if necessary, to keep it upright.
And if you can’t move your house plants…
Observe a cutting. Keep a cutting and try to re-grow your favorite botanicals at your new house if your plants are entrenched in the yard or are too large to transport.
Send them out. Your plants may be portable, but if you think they won’t make it, make plans to gift some of your healthy, happy plants to your friends and neighbors before you leave.