Are you getting ready to move? Even though your backyard landscaping needs to stay put, you can move your indoor house plants. If you have interior greenery that has to go, take a look at what you need to know about moving house plants.

Keep the Temperature Constant

Most plants are temperature-sensitive. This means fluctuations over a few degrees either way can cause them to wilt and wither. While a few seconds in the cold or a brief trip outside in excessively warm weather isn’t likely to do major damage, extended time spent in the wrong type of temperature can cause permanent problems for your house plants.

Keep in mind, unlike outdoor plants, the house versions are used to an indoor environment. If the outdoor temperature doesn’t meet your plants’ needs:

  • Leave the plants for last. Don’t let the plants sit outdoors for minutes or hours while the movers bring furniture, clothes, and everything else from your home to the truck. Keep these delicate indoor items inside until you absolutely need to move them out.
  • Use your car. If the moving truck isn’t climate controlled, move house plants in your car.
  • Cover the plants. Prevent excessive damage and cover the plants with towels or another similar type of cloth.

If you do need to move the plants in your car, avoid creating an excessively warm or cool environment. You don’t need to place the plants in front of the heating/cooling vents for the move. Forced warm or cool air can dry leaves and cause damage to sensitive species.

Remember to Prepare Them

To get the best results possible, prepare your plants before your moving day arrives. Not only can the prep steps help your plants, but they can also reduce the risk of accidentally transporting pests and plant-borne diseases with you.

To prepare your plants:

  • Replace the soil. Gently remove the soil and replace it with fresh potting soil. Only use store-bought soil from a bag—and not soil from your yard. Outdoor soil/dirt may contain pests or their eggs.
  • Replace the pot. A heavy ceramic or breakable pot isn’t easy to transport safely. Reduce the breakage risk and replace the pots with plastic ones temporarily.
  • Water your plants. Continue to water your plants as you normally would. You shouldn’t add excess water or decrease the water intake before the move.

As your move day approaches, you’ll need to pack the plants. Like with moving them, wait to pack these living items until immediately before the move. Read on for more information on how to properly pack your house plants.

Pack Them Properly

Unlike dishware, books, and clothes, you can’t pack plants in boxes, bins, and bags — even if they’re small. To pack your plants:

  • Wrap the foliage. Use acid-free craft paper to loosely wrap the leaves/flowering parts of the plant. Form a cone type of structure over the plant to keep it safe from mid-move damage.
  • Use shallow boxes. Even though you shouldn’t completely box or bin your plants, you can use shallow, top-free boxes to hold several small plants. Place folded towels or linens in between the plants to cushion them and prevent movement.
  • Pack the pots. After you remove ceramic and other non-plastic pots, pack these items separately. Wrap breakable pots in bubble wrap or towels. These can go into cushioned heavy duty plastic bins for transportation in the moving truck.

Before you pack all your plants, make sure you can move them — especially if you’re moving out of state. Some states have laws regulating what types of plant-life you can and can’t bring into the area.

Do you need help with your move? Contact Island Movers for more information.