5 Tips For Moving Your Houseplants

Moving can take a toll on your houseplants. They tend to be more sensitive to climate, the elements and changes in their surroundings. Follow these simple tips to help them make the move successfully.

Protect them – professional florists and nurseries use sleeves made of paper, foil or thin plastic to protect the foliage and add a layer of insulation for shipping to colder climates. Look for them in a local floral supply, gardening store or online at sites like FloralSupply.com. Newspaper is also an economical alternative. For larger plants, use a large trash bag to cover the plant and prevent loss of foliage. Be sure to tie or tape the bag at the base of the plant.

Pack them well – use a laundry basket for smaller potted plants and pack them in tightly together. For trees, use crumpled newspaper to pack the pot at the base of the tree. Cover with plastic and secure with packing tape to prevent loss of potting soil and messy handling.

Keep them warm – some plants are sensitive to even the slightest changes in temperature. Ask your mover about transporting them in an insulated or heated truck. Be sure to have the mover place them in the center of the truck if possible. If you are putting them in your car, let it warm up a bit before you load the plants or load while the car is in your garage. Keep in mind that extreme heat in summer or warm weather climates can also damage them.

Move fast – move the plants from the house to truck, then truck to house as quickly as possible. Avoid setting them on a sidewalk or driveway to prevent the roots from exposure to the cold pavement. Try to minimize their time outside in the cold to minimize the impact it will have on them.

Professional shipping – for long distance moves, your best option is to have them shipped separately. Even then, the cost can be a factor, and there are no guarantees that they will survive the trip. You might consider keeping just a few favorites and selling the or donating the rest to a local school or elder care facility. Use the money you save in shipping to buy replacements for your new home.

Your houseplants will need some time to adjust to their new environment. They may have experienced some shock during your move so expect to see them drop leaves until they get acclimated. If you are concerned about how best to move your houseplants, give us a call. We are happy to help!

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