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How to move plants to your new home
Image by Freepik
If you are a plant lover (just like us!) you understand why people say that plants are what make a house feels like home. And if you’re moving to a new country it is essential to bring your plants with you. Having taken care of them for months, even years, it just doesn’t feel right to leave them behind, or give them away before you move to your destination country.
You may be relieved to hear that most plants can be moved too, it just takes more preparation, as opposed to moving your table, sofa or other furniture. This is why we’ve asked our move experts to share a few tips on how to move your collection of beautiful house plants, making sure that they’ll arrive in your new home in perfect shape.
Moving house plants
Moving larger outdoor plants is much more complex and would essentially require careful preparation and special attention. Alternatively, small house plants are the easiest to move. First, you’ll need to supply some sturdy card boxes to use for transportation. You can go to the local supermarket and ask for help – you’ll certainly find an employee ready to provide some boxes absolutely free of charge. Once you’ve supplied the number of open card boxes you’ll need, place the potted plants inside and fill any gaps with bubble wrap, foam cushioning, newspapers, or wrapping paper to prevent the plants from moving around and getting damaged. Make sure that the plants are stable, if necessary wrap their branches, stems or leaves with wrapping paper or plastic material to protect them better during the move as well as keeping them warm if it’s cold out on moving day. Paper bags are always better than plastic because they allow plants to breathe, but either way, make a few small air holes to stay on the safe side.
Keep in mind that many moving companies would not agree to transport your plants, especially if you have booked an international move. In this case, think of the opportunity to take your house plants with you in your car. It means more hassle, but the upside is that you can better take care of your plants. You can adjust the temperature as necessary, water them and even bring them inside if you’re spending the night in a hotel.
Moving outdoor plants
Larger, outdoor plants can be a lot trickier to move, so you’ll need to decide if it’s actually worth the time and the effort. Lots of plants are very sensitive to temperature or location changes and would hardly survive a long-distance international move. With this in mind, you can always decide to give some of your plants away.
If you will be definitely moving your larger plants to your new home, the first step is to dig them up with enough soil around the roots and place them inside a paper bag or wrap the root bag in burlap, so that everything is held together. It is imperative to water the plants well beforehand so that their roots remain moist during the move. Your plants can stay like this for days as long as you water them, which means that you can do this ahead of time.
Pro tips for moving plants from our move experts
- Research the laws of the country you’re heading to find out if you are allowed to bring your larger plants to the country and under what condition
- Some removals companies would not allow plants, potted or outdoor, in their removal vans. Make sure to ask in advance and plan accordingly.
- Once you have arrived, wait at least a week before re-planting your plants in new pots. Leave them for a while in the plastic containers you have used for transportation, keep watering well and give plant food. Your plants will soon recover and restore their lusciousness.
- Help your plants adjust to their new environment – just like people plants will need time to ‘feel at home.
