How to Care for Plants While Moving?
If you carefully follow these tips on moving plants, your house plants will be able to travel for up to three days before needing attention.
- Check plant regulations for your destination. Both states and countries may demand plant inspections and limit the types of plants that can be imported.
- Securely pack your plants to prevent them from falling over, and ensure they have enough air circulation. Atlas provides cost-effective plant packing supplies, and their local agents can guide you on what's necessary.
- Try to load your plants just before you set off. It's best to avoid storing them in the trunk of your vehicle.
- During hot weather, take breaks in shaded areas and slightly open the window. Keep plants out of direct sunlight at all times.
- Maintain a comfortable temperature inside your vehicle. Plants are especially susceptible to cold weather. If necessary, use newspaper or paper bags to insulate your plants.
- Only water your plants if they appear extremely dry. Otherwise, wait until you reach your new residence.
- If your travel extends beyond three days, make sure to bring your plants inside whenever you stop for the night and open the boxes to give them some light.
Before Your Move
Follow these steps to condition your plants for moving so they can endure changes to their environment without wilting or breaking:
- Three weeks before moving day. Transfer your plants from fragile clay pots into sturdy, same-sized plastic pots to prevent breakage.
- Two weeks before moving day. Trim larger plants by pinching off new growth using your thumb and forefinger, and remove dead leaves, branches, and flowers with sharp scissors or gardening shears. This trimming not only makes the plants easier to handle and transport but also results in healthy, full, and aesthetically pleasing plants after relocation. However, avoid pruning ferns and succulents like cacti, jade plants, and aloe.
- One week before moving day. Inspect your plants for bugs and parasites. If you need to use insecticides, do so with caution and adhere to the label instructions. Remember that pesticides are on our list of prohibited items, so make sure you have a plan to distribute or discard any remaining pesticides before the move.
- Two days before moving day. Hydrate your plants as usual, but be mindful not to overwater them. Excess water can lead to freezing in cold weather or encourage fungal growth in warmer conditions.
Moving Day
Prepare by packing your plants the night before or the morning of your move. Here’s how to pack plants for moving:
- Wrap. Wrap large plants with an old bed sheet or tissue paper to prevent branches from breaking.
- Position. Place each pot in a box so it fits snugly at the bottom. You may use regular moving boxes, like dish packs, available from your Atlas mover.
- Pack. If necessary, pack paper in the box around the base of the pot to hold the pot in place. Punch air holes in the sides of the box and loosely fasten the lid so plants can breathe.
- Label. Set the boxes upright and clearly mark the top and sides. This will help avoid loading them by mistake into the moving truck.
- Control. Keep the temperature in your vehicle at a comfortable level. Cold and hot temperatures can harm your plants.
Once You’re Home
Once you’re in your new home, it’s important to get your plants back in the same condition they were in at your previous home. Here’s how:
- Unpack. Unpack your plants as soon as possible. Remove plants through the bottom of the box to prevent breakage.
- Place. Place plants back in pots that are the same size as the ones before you moved.
- Stabilize. Refrain from moving plants around until they become acclimated.
- Heal. If your plant suffers from transplant shock after your move, give it a few days to recover.
With your planning and careful attention, your plants will make a successful move. Like you, they’ll be ready to flourish in their new home.
Ready to Make Your Move?
J.W. Cole & Sons of Florida Inc. is family-owned and operated in Fort Myers with generations of experience. We have provided quality and affordability to families in Southwest Florida since 1985. We proudly serve Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Naples, Lehigh Acres, and Estero, Florida. Through our affiliation with Atlas Van Lines, we can professionally handle all of your local needs.
Call J.W. Cole & Sons of Florida at 239-694-3400 today or fill out our form to start your move.
