If you’re anything like us, you’ve nurtured, cared for, and invested time and money into your plants. They’re a big part of your daily life and part of the family. So, it’s no wonder you want to ensure your treasured plants are well considered when moving house.
So much so, Google has it one of the most searched for phrases.
Whether you’re transporting your plants to your new home yourself or hiring movers, there are some simple precautions you can take to ensure your plants arrive safe and sound. Keep in mind, moving your plants around the corner presents few difficulties, particularly if you only have a few. Longer distance is where things can get a little trickier.
Prepping your plants for the move.
If you have time up your sleeve and are particularly worried about breaking your favourite pots, consider repotting your plants into plastic nursery containers at least 3 weeks before the move. This will give your plants sufficient time to adjust to their new space before being moved. Shatterproof planters will help ensure no nasty bumps break anything, slice any roots, or harm your soil, as well as reduce the weight of the plant when transporting.
Plants should be watered normally until two days prior to the move, which will give the plant adequate drainage time. If the soil is too wet while moving, it could turn chill in bad weather as well as provide a good environment for fungus and root rot.
In the build up to the move, gently dust foliage with a dampened cloth, and check for and treat any pests and disease to prevent spread. Remove any dead or damaged leaves. Where possible, prune back any excess foliage on your plants and tie/bind together any branches or long vines that overhang their containers. This will save room and minimise the risk of snapping when travelling.
Repotting and pruning weeks before will give your plants time to settle and decrease the risk of experiencing shock when moved to a new environment. Too much change at once can stress a plant, causing stunted or halted growth, leaf loss, and susceptibility to pests and infections.
Repotting houseplants.
If you wish to take some of your outdoor plants to the new place, it’s recommended you dig these up on the day of the move for the best chance of a successful relocation. You may instead choose to take a cutting or two. Before you decide to take this option, make sure the plant can be regrown from a cutting and be sure to check which part of the plant to cut.
On the day of the move, it might be helpful to move plants to a designated area to avoid the risk of leaving a friend behind.
Packing and moving your plants.
Moving your plants yourself? Track down some appropriately sized boxes and tape up the bottom securely so there’s minimal risk of them falling through. Then either line the box with plastic, secure plastic bags around the pot or tape cardboard over the soil so that it doesn’t spill during the move. Place your plants in the box and stuff bubble wrap, foam, or newspaper in the empty spaces so the pots don’t shift or tip during the move and to avoid any scratching.
Taller plants can be bagged or wrapped in plastic to protect the foliage from damage during the move. Just make sure to poke holes in the plastic to allow your plant to breathe. Try binding sprawling parts together with twine to keep them compact for transit.
Packing plants for moving houses
Placing your box(es) in the front or back seat of your car will give you the comfort of keeping an eye on them, plus you can use seatbelts to secure your items. No time to wrap and box? Try and nestle the plants as close together as possible when packing your car. Taller plants can then be positioned on the floor or in the boot, but make sure no other boxes can slide and crush your plants during the drive. Transporting your cuttings are easy enough. You can wrap them in damp paper towels and secure it in a container or you can purchase some floral tubes, fill them with water and cap them.
Remember much like yourselves and your pets, if you’re feeling uncomfortable it’s very likely your plant is too. You’ll want to keep your car warm on cold days and cool on hot days and if you need to stop for any period of time, try and park in the shade with a window cracked. Wet, scrunched up newspaper or sphagnum moss around the leaves and between the pots can also be beneficial if the temperature in the car is expected to be an issue.
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Adjusting to their new environment.
When you’ve arrived at your new home, make sure to take your plants out of their boxes and remove any plastic immediately. It’s then the exciting part of setting them up in a new space! You get to find the perfect window, the perfect arrangement, and the perfect amount of light for all your lovelies to live their happiest lives.
If you transplanted them into plastic containers, make sure to give your plants at least a week to adjust to their new conditions before moving them back to their original pots. Moving is very hard on them and we don’t want to over stress them with repotting.
Keep these tips handy for any future moves to ensure you safely relocate your plants from their old home to their new home without worry.
Plants bathing in natural light