Moving Your Plants: Helpful Tips for Your Relocation
People tend to develop an attachment to their houseplants. When the time comes to move, many decide to keep their plants with them. If you’re moving in the next few months and you hope to bring your houseplants with you, it can be done.
While our movers in Southwest Florida can help you with almost all aspects of your relocation with our complete moving services in Florida, they are prohibited from loading houseplants into our moving trucks. You will have to transport your plants in your own vehicle. Still, good preparation can help make your house plant relocation a success. Here’s how to move plants.
Decide What Comes with You
Before preparing your plants to move, decide which plants (if any) are best left behind. Factors to consider include:
- Size. Some plants may be too large or heavy to transport.
- Climate. Plants that require a specific climate may not thrive in your new home if you’re moving to a part of the country with radically different weather patterns.
- Plant viability. Plants that are not healthy may not survive the drive from your old home to your new home.
Some states limit the type of plants that can be brought across the border, so if you’re moving plants from one state to another, research restrictions in that state. Some states (California in particular) control their borders by searching vehicles, so don’t assume that no one will know if you’re bringing a prohibited plant in your car.
If you do plan to leave some of your plants behind, make arrangements in advance to give those plants away to friends, family, and neighbors. You might even decide to sell your plants at a garage sale if you’re planning to have one before you move.
Re-pot in Plastic Containers
Ceramic pots are breakable and heavy, which make them impractical for plant transportation. Re-potting your plants in plastic containers reduces the chances that a pot will break while in transit and also makes your plants easier to move. Pack your ceramic pots in bubble wrap, and then place them in sturdy boxes. Label the boxes as “fragile.”
When choosing plastic containers for your pots, choose pots that have no drainage holes. This prevents water from running out of the pot and into the vehicle. This also reduces the chances that the soil will fall out of the pot while in transit.
Trim Your Plants Before Move Day
Trim your plants before move day to downsize overgrown specimens and eliminate dry, dead leaves. This makes transporting your plants less messy and may even ensure that your plants will look better when they arrive at their destination.
Decide Which Vehicle
Commercial shipment of plants across the country is tightly controlled, so many local and long-distance moving companies in Florida will not allow plants to ride along in the moving vehicle. This leaves people to bring their own plants when they’re relocating.
Many people who move their plants do so by putting them in their own car. Before move day arrives, do a trial run to ensure your plants fit in your vehicle. Place them in boxes without a lid to keep the plants contained and prevent them from falling over.
Park in the Shade
Unless they’ve been properly acclimated, plants are very sensitive to heat and cold. When stopping at restaurants, park your vehicle in the shade. If the weather is very hot, leave the windows cracked. Avoid leaving your plants in the car for long periods of time. If you’re driving across the country to get to your new home, bring your plants into the hotel with you at night.
Work With Your Moving Company
A good residential moving company in Florida will have suggestions that can help you get through your upcoming relocation. Whether you have questions about moving with plants or other moving-related topics, your moving company can help.
At Modern Movers, we’re happy to give you moving information that will make your relocation a success. Call today to find out more.
The Modern Movers moving team in Southwest Florida knows the ins and outs of local, long-distance, commercial, office, piano moves, and much more. You can count on these professional movers in Fort Myers and Bradenton to get you to your new home while keeping stress-free!
