Congratulations on getting yourself a new home to move into. You’ve probably bribed a couple of friends to help you with the shifting or contacted professional movers for their services and are excited to see your new home. Everything seems to be going well until you ask yourself how exactly you move your plants to your new home safely and efficiently?
Plants aren’t exactly meant to be easily transportable, as they tend to be fragile and sensitive to external changes or sell plants online. Moving them without much care can add disruptions to their routine and negatively impact their growth. Read on to find out how you can successfully transport your garden of plants safely and legally to your new residences. Look for a moving company that can help you move your plants.
There are actually some laws in place in some countries on moving your plants across states. While it sounds crazy, these laws are present for a legitimate reason. Transporting plants might also bring around plant diseases or invasive organisms that can drastically affect the local ecosystem and the agriculture industry.
Before you start your preparations, do a quick check-in with the Department of Agriculture in your new residences. Some plants may need inspections or certifications to demonstrate that they are disease and pest free. Unfortunately, some plants might actually be prohibited from entering the state entirely.
If it’s too much of a hassle to go through all the trouble and legislation, there’s some worth considering donating or giving away your plants to your friends and getting new ones after you’ve shifted nicely into your new home. Another option you might want to consider is taking a cutting of your plant, so it’s easier to move them about.
While there are fewer legal obstacles for transportations within the state, there is still a list of processes to make sure your loved plants are safely transported.
Give yourself ample time to prepare for your move, with about a month grace period to pay special care to your plants. Plants are extra sensitive to their external environment, and adjusting their light source, temperature, and water drastically might affect their growth, if not kill them.
If you intend to make long-distance shifts, trim off the dead leaves and transfer your plant into another pot filled with sterile soil. This reduces the stress to your plant by preventing any pesky critters. When you’re approaching your moving day, remember to ensure your plants are well hydrated and fertilized to prepare them for the big day.
Even with professional movers on your side, you’ll be disappointed to find that it’s against the law to move certain items that are perishable, dangerous, or flammable. As plants fall under the perishable column, it’s definitely something you will either need to contact a moving company with a special license or just transport the plants by yourself. This is also done to protect your plants as moving trucks don’t exactly have the best conditions for your plant to survive due to a lack of light, water, and specific temperature requirements.
If you’re deciding to drive to your new home, the best portion of the car to place your plants is the floor of the back seat of the car. This prevents scenarios of your plants toppling over and allows flexibility for you to check up on them frequently. Another option would be to place them in the trunk, with loads of other heavy items to keep them upright during the drive.
In the case that you’re taking the plane to your new home, just get your plants shipped to your new homes. Be sure to follow the guidelines provided by shipping companies to ensure you’ll find your plants alive when they arrive.
Be aware that there’s a slight risk of your plants not being able to thrive in your new home, especially if they are outdoor plants. Each plant species has a specific range of gardening zones that they can survive in, and you can save yourself loads of trouble and disappointment by cross-checking your new home’s zip code number with USDA’s Plant Hardiness Map to ensure it’ll survive rough cold seasons.
If your current plants aren’t suitable for the new climates, try to see what other plants are suitable for the region to continue your gardening journey.
For indoor plants in containers, simply pack them up in a box or secure them in your car. For outdoor plants, this may be a bit challenging. You’ll need to start by pruning as much foliage as possible to aid your plant in their conservation of energy and ease the transportation process. Make sure they have enough water, fertilizer, and plant food as well.
When you’re digging up your plant from the ground, be careful with your roots and try to dig in a large circumference to ensure it stays intact. Once it’s done, put the plant into a paper bag if it’s small enough or wrap the roots in some burlap. Burlap isn’t as convenient as plastic but will ensure your plant gets to breathe during the trip.
The key idea of moving is to prioritize your living things first: your family members, pets, and plants, before your other belongings. Even though you can control your car’s temperature, your plants will still require essential conditions such as food, sunlight, and fresh air. If the transportation ride is going to be taking quite a long while, it might be a good idea to pull over for a while to tend to your plants’ needs and provide them some shade or sunlight for a while.
When you’ve finally reached your destination, quickly tend to your plants before your other non-living belongings. Try to find a spot with sufficient light, such as a window facing the south, and allow them to reap in their new spots while you unpack the rest of your belongings.
Moving anywhere is always a logistical nightmare, not least if you have plants that you want to bring with you to your home. We hope these tips have helped you out.
