Moving to a new house could be difficult, especially if one has indoor plants. Unlike other items such as furniture or kitchen appliances, plants are alive and thus require special care during the process of moving. Plants may suffer due to rough handling, dropping soil, breaking pots, damaging leaves, changes in temperature, or staying in the wrong environment for a long period of time.
However, the good thing is that with enough preparation, it is possible to relocate most indoor plants without problems. The trick is to prepare the plants for the move, pack them properly, ensure stability during transportation, and finally assist them to adapt in the new environment.
This manual shows how to do all of this and how to relocate indoor plants safely.
Start Preparing Your Plants Before Moving Day
Do not wait until the last minute to start thinking about your plants. Before you move, a few days prior to that, examine each of your plants and determine how to move it.
Remove any dried up or fallen leaves or debris from the pot. This will make it easier to handle them while you move them.
Additionally, take note if you have plants with especially long stems, large leaves, or heavy pots. These will need special care when packed.
In case you have multiple plants, make an easy list of which plants can go in one place and which should be handled individually due to being big or fragile.
Avoid Overwatering Before the Move
One of the most frequent mistakes is to give your plants excessive amounts of water right before moving them.
This can make your pots very heavy and can result in spillage as well when you tilt your plant during moving. Moreover, any excess water can create a mess in your car or harm your other belongings.
Keep the plants moist and watered in accordance with your regular routine, but do not provide any extra moisture to them right before moving.
Soil should be moist only in case your plant requires that.
Choose the Right Pots for Moving
Moving heavy ceramic, glass, or decorative pots is hard work, and these types of pots could be easily broken during the process of relocation.
However, if the pot is particularly delicate, think whether you will be able to protect it individually. At the same time, do not re-pot all the plants just before your relocation, since such actions could affect their root systems too.
Lightweight pots are much easier to carry around. Plants must stay in their pots, and it would be wrong to lift the large plants by their stems or leaves.
Do not lift the pot by the plant.
Protect the Soil From Spilling
Soil may be easily lost if the pot is tilted when loading or transporting.
In order to avoid such an issue, the plant should remain upright while using appropriate light covering on the surface of the soil if required. The plant must not be tightly packed.
For small plants, it is possible to put several pots in one big container. In order to avoid unnecessary movement, there should be appropriate soft material in between the pots.
The container must be able to provide support without excessive pressure on the leaves or stems of the plants.
Stability of the plants is one of the easiest methods for protection during transportation.
Protect Delicate Leaves and Stems
Large-leaved plants, those with long stalks or branches that spread out wide can be easily injured while carrying them through the doorway or in other narrow places.
Prior to moving, gently guide the loose branches or leaves towards each other, if needed. You can offer some assistance to avoid moving around too much.
Don’t tie the plant up too tightly. The idea is to secure the plant, not to squeeze it in any way.
Make sure there are no pointed things, boxes or furniture that can push against the plant’s leaves or stalks.
With respect to tall plants, make sure to inspect the route from the house to the vehicle prior to lifting the plant.
Keep Plants Away From Heavy Items
Plants should never be boxed under heavier items such as pieces of furniture, household appliances, or boxes.
While the pot might not get broken, the weight of other items might cause harm to the leaves, stems, or branches.
Separate plants from regular household objects.
When packing professionals are involved in your move, make sure to tell them in advance that some pots contain plants.
Small plants can be put together in a safe box, and large plants should be placed somewhere where they cannot be knocked down or smashed.
Pack Small Indoor Plants Together
Although small indoor plants are easy to move, they can always be displaced or may even tip over.
Pots should be placed in an adequately sized box or container made of tough materials to hold the pots upright.
The remaining gaps in the container should be filled with support material to ensure the pots do not shift position during the move. Pots should not be stacked too tightly for fear of crushing their leaves.
Ensure that the box or container is kept upright and labeled as a plant carrier.
Heavy boxes should never be stacked on top of the plant carrier box or container.
Move Large Plants Carefully
Big indoor plants need to be carefully planned for because of their size and structure.
Measure door frames, stairways, and other narrow spots as needed before transplanting the big plant to make sure you have enough room to move it safely.
Clear the path prior to lifting the pot.
Do not drag a heavy pot along the floor surface if that may cause damage to either the plant or the floor itself. Always seek appropriate help when moving big planters.
Support the pot properly and never lift the plant by the trunk, branches, and foliage.
Choose a Safe Transportation Method
When moving over shorter distances, small indoor plants may be easier to move individually using an appropriate personal vehicle where they can stay straight and upright.
It will give you an opportunity to watch over them without putting them in danger of being packed with other heavier household items.
In case you are moving over longer distances, inform the movers about your plants beforehand.
Let them know the number of plants that you have, their sizes, and whether there are any delicate plants that need special attention.
Not all companies move plants in the same manner. Be sure of what is going to happen to your plants before packing.
Protect Plants From Extreme Weather
Sudden variations in temperature may affect indoor plants.
Keep plants inside until loading or unloading is completed. Likewise, plants should not be left in the enclosed truck unnecessarily.
In case of hot weather, minimize the exposure of plants to direct sunlight. In case of rain, shield the pots and leaves of plants from too much water.
The objective is to load and unload the plants efficiently in order to minimize their exposure to unfavorable conditions.
Keep Plants Upright During Transportation
One of the simplest methods of preventing damage to the plants is ensuring that the plants remain vertical during transit.
They should be put on a flat and steady surface to ensure that they do not move at all when the vehicle is turning or stopping.
Nothing should be stacked on top of them.
Where multiple plants are being moved, they should be supported without having them pressed too tight.
Some movement may occur during the transport, but correct positioning will greatly reduce the possibility of pots falling or the leaves getting damaged.
Inform Your Packers and Movers
Communication is crucial when transporting plants.
Prior to the move, clearly communicate with the packers and movers regarding the plants that you have inside your house. This will let them know which plants are big, fragile, heavy, and delicate.
You may also choose in advance which plants you want to transport on your own.
Making all these preparations beforehand will avoid confusion and the risk of mistreating the plants as any other boxes.
At Sunrise Packers & Movers, communication about special items within your house prior to the move can be of great help.
Prepare the New Home Before Arrival
Before moving the plants into their new environment, consider the place where they will be placed.
Different types of plants require different amounts of light, ventilation, and room. Do your best to find a suitable place beforehand.
It is not necessary to arrange everything precisely, yet do not leave plants packed somewhere in a dark corner for a long time.
This might help the plants to start acclimating to their new surroundings.
Unpack Your Plants as Soon as Possible
Once you have reached your destination, ensure that the plants are not kept in boxes or containers for too long.
Remove all the protective material and check the plant.
Inspect the pot for any cracks and look out for any spilled soil.
If there is any soil spilled, clean up and replenish the soil where necessary.
Some of the plants might change in appearance as a result of being moved around. Just give them time to get used to their surroundings.
Give Plants Time to Adjust
The light, temperature, humidity and ventilation levels in your new home will be different from before.
This means that the plants may take some time to adjust.
Do not keep shifting them from one place to another in the initial few days. Pick an appropriate place and let them get accustomed to their surroundings.
Follow the right regime for their care, including proper watering according to their requirements.
Do not overdo the watering or make drastic changes just because the plants look a bit stressed post relocation.
Keep Plant Care Supplies Accessible
Try not to stuff all your plant care equipment in boxes that you might have trouble finding.
Ensure that the essential equipment like a watering can, gloves, garden tools, and cleaning agents are easily accessible.
This will make it easy to take care of your plants once you get to your new place.
Also, remember to carry along a cloth or any other cleaning agent in case there is any spillage of soil while moving or unpacking the plants.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
There are several simple mistakes that can cause the plants to be easily damaged when you are moving.
Try not to overwater the plants before transporting them. Avoid putting any heavy objects on them and allow them to move freely while in the car.
Avoid lifting the plants using their stems or leaves; always lift the plant using its pot or container.
Another common mistake that you should avoid is keeping the plants packed even after you reach your new destination.
A Quick Checklist for Moving Indoor Plants
Before your move, ensure that:
- Each plant has been checked for loose and dry leaves.
- No unnecessary overwatering has taken place.
- Stable containers have been arranged for small plants.
- Leaves and stems have been protected.
- Heavy things are kept away from the plants.
- Transportation plans have been made.
- Special plants have been discussed with packers and movers.
- A suitable place is prepared at the new location.
- Basic necessities for plant care are available.
These simple steps will surely make your work easy.
Final Thoughts
Moving indoor plants can become easy, provided you pay extra attention in planning and execution.
You need to prepare your plants prior to moving, avoid overwatering, protect the soil, leaves, and stems, and make sure that all the plants are standing straight during the whole process of moving.
You can arrange small plants into one sturdy box, while each of large plants needs its own handling.
If you use professional packers and movers, then you need to notify them about your plants so that suitable arrangements can be made for you.
In Sunrise Packers & Movers, we will help you organize and handle your plants in order to help you relocate your house easier. If there are some special items like indoor plants in your list, then our movers and packers will be more attentive if you tell them about it beforehand.
After reaching your new place, unpack the plants as soon as you can and let them get adjusted to new environment.