Anyone with house plants knows that this indoor greenery is much more than just home decor. Significant time, energy, and effort go into keeping your plants alive and thriving. But what happens if you’re moving?
House plants are a tricky part of the moving process because most moving companies can’t move these items. If you plan to keep them, you’ll have to take your house plants in your personal vehicle. Read on form some tips and tricks to make sure your greenery survives the transition to your new home.
Moving Tips for House Plants
For any type of move — short or long — you’ll need to carefully pack your house plants and pay close attention to the weather. Check out the infographic below for our best tips and tricks for moving your plants.
Pack Your Plants Carefully
Packing a house plant is different from packing a plate or couch. These living organisms need access to water and air, but they also need to be packed well enough to prevent damage during the move.
You can place shorter plants into boxes with air holes. Try to fit as many as possible in one box, then fill the empty space with bubble wrap or spare packing paper to limit movement. If you can avoid it, don’t seal the box shut, but tape it loosely instead. Oxygen is critical to house plants, and suffocating them is harmful.
Taller plants might not fit into shipping boxes. Instead, safely wrap them in shrink wrap and place moss over the soil to keep it from spilling everywhere. If you’re moving in the summer, moisten the moss to prevent the plants from drying out.
No one wants their favorite pots to break during a move. Make sure to transfer your plant into a plastic pot around three weeks before move day so they can recover from the shock before moving. A plastic pot during the move will be more resilient to traveling. Meanwhile, your ceramic pots can be safely packed and taken by the professionals.
Be Mindful of the Weather
Certain house plants can be sensitive to extreme temperatures. When you’re moving them in and out of the moving truck, be sure to keep in mind the climate you’re exposing them to.
If you’re traveling during Houston’s hotter months, try not to leave your house plant in the vehicle for more than an hour. If you have to leave it in the car without air conditioning, crack open the windows to keep oxygen circulating. Prior to moving the plant, make sure to water it or add the moist moss.
If you’re moving during the winter, even the slightest exposure to freezing temperatures can cause damage. For taller plants, protect the leaves by wrapping them in newspaper. Even small plants can use a cover.
After the move, pay close attention to your plants to see if you notice any symptoms of cold weather shock, like drooping or discoloration of the leaves. If you do, make sure to provide added warmth. The damaged leaves may fall off, but new leaves should replace them.
Moving in Houston
While you’re taking care of your house plants, we want to make sure the rest of your move is stress-free. If you’re in the Houston area and need help on your next move, contact Ameritex Movers.