Moving with pets adds a layer of complication — but sometimes houseplants are even trickier.
Houseplants need a specific environment to survive. Moving changes it.
There are several ways you can minimize damage to your houseplants as you pack up and move. Here are a few things you can try.
Check Health Before the Move
Travel tends to be harder on plants, especially those that live in a specific environment indoors. You want them in their best health before transportation.
A few months before the move, check your plants’ general condition. If you need to move them to new pots or it’s time to prune them, do it well in advance.
Treat for pests, and be sure to avoid overwatering and underwatering. That way, your plant will be able to handle the stress of moving better.
Research Transportation Options
Moving plants isn’t always as simple as how to get them there. In addition, you might complementary face quarantine requirements and other state guidelines to prevent the spread of pests or diseases.
In addition, moving companies often won’t move plants if the distance is more than 150 miles or across state lines.
It doesn’t mean that you can’t bring your plants with you, just that you need to plan ahead. Consider putting your plants in commercial soil a couple of months ahead of time to minimize most problems.
Protect From Sun
Most houseplants prefer indirect lighting at most. However, putting them into the backseat of your car can expose them to bright, direct light and heat.
You might consider buying a pre-made shade for your plant. That way, you can keep them in a car without exposing them to direct light.
If you have many plants to move, you might need to rig a portable plant screen. Just make sure that it doesn’t block your visibility while you drive.
Avoid Drafts
Your plants like regular air circulation, but you’ll need to control it during transit. Just like heat can burn a houseplant, drafts can cause it to wilt.
And this isn’t just a problem that comes up during cold seasons. For example, ifHowever, putting you blast the air conditioning while you drive, your plants might react to it.
Think about the placement of your plants before loading. Turn vents away from the plant so that the air reaches it indirectly. Try to stick to a moderate temperature to avoid running it full-blast the whole way.
Transport Quickly
No matter how carefully you move your houseplants, they’ll probably deal with some stress. Many species can bounce back, even if they are almost dead. You should research in advance to rehome a variety that isn’t likely to make it.
Trips less than 24 hours are best. If you’re planning to take a road trip as part of your move, you might want to make other arrangements for the plants. Gift them to friends or family.
And once you arrive, be sure to set up a healthy environment for the plants on the first day. They can get back to health faster that way.
Moving On
Houseplants can survive a move if you plan ahead and take care. To discover your options for a safe and healthy move, contact us for a quote.