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.
Can you bring a succulent abroad on a plane?
Plants must always be packed as safely as possible while traveling by plane. Plants are delicate, and if you don’t take care of them properly, they will perish throughout your travel. Depending on the circumstances, you can pack plants in checked baggage as well as carry-on luggage. Generally speaking, bare-rooted plants are the simplest to move. For shorter domestic flights, you might want to protect your plants and keep the soil within your hand luggage.
How to Pack Plants Bare-Root for International Flights
Customs always demands that the plant be transported bare-rooted when traveling internationally. They are unable to forecast what insects and pests are present in the soil, which is why. Potentially concealed pathogenic bugs there could have disastrous effects on the environment.
Here is how to go about it:
- As you would for larger flowers and plants before the winter, we suggest you to remove any extraneous portions. The type of plant will determine how much you can cut, so do your study. There will be less plant material to damage, and you’ll free up some space in your suitcase.
- Remove your plant from its container and make an effort to manually remove the soil. As much soil as you can remove, being cautious not to harm the plant.
- Wash all of the extra soil from the roots with a bowl of water. Because it is not permitted through international customs, wash off completely.
- Remove any extra moisture from the roots with a cloth. The plant can start to rot within a few hours if the roots are completely saturated. Before packing, the roots should just be barely moist.
- Wrap the roots in a zip-lock bag or other type of plastic bag to prevent them from drying out while you are away.
- To keep the plant moist and secure during your travel, wrap the entire thing with newspaper.
- To prevent it from becoming squashed while being transported in a luggage, place your plant close to softer objects and, if at all feasible, in a plastic or cardboard container.
Depending on the type of plant you’re taking, this setup ought to be adequate for 24- to 48-hour flights.
How to Pack Plants for Domestic Flights
There is no need to ship your plant bare-rooted for domestic flights. However, you can still do it to reduce weight and space if you so choose. The following describes how to pack plants and soil in hand luggage:
- Ensure that your plant and its container meet the airline’s hand baggage size limitations. It typically measures 22 x 14 x 9 inches.
- Since liquids are not permitted in hand luggage, make sure the soil is as dry as possible before passing through security. It’s advisable to water your plant the night before a short flight.
- To prevent the solid from spilling out and making a mess, cover the soil in the pot with a few newspapers. You can enclose the pot in a tiny plastic bag for added security.
- Wrap the entire plant in newspaper to protect the exposed parts. However, take care to prevent injuring the stem and leaves.
- You are ready to leave after you have your plant inside a plastic bag. You might be able to put it beneath your front seat and pass it off as a personal item if it’s tiny enough.
- Make sure to cover your plant with soft clothing if you plan to transport it inside a suitcase. Also keep in mind that if you lay your bag horizontally in the overhead bin, some dirt may leak out of the pot.
Can I take a potted plant on a plane?
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.
Succulents are legal to import into the US.
We want you to comprehend the rationale if an inspection confiscated food, plants, or keepsakes from you at a foreign airport, border crossing, or port of entry.
Regulations set forth by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) restrict the importation of a number of commodities from foreign nations. Prohibited agricultural products may contain plant pests and foreign animal illnesses that have the potential to cause significant harm to American agriculture, livestock, the environment, and a significant portion of our economy.
When entering the United States, all visitors are REQUIRED to declare any meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, and plant and animal products (including any soup or soup-related items). All things transported in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or a vehicle must be covered by the declaration.
How are live plants transported?
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.