Moving can be stressful for all living beings. When it comes to change, plants are especially vulnerable. How do you move your plants to your new home without losing the progress they’ve made? With a little love and some planning, you can protect both your indoor plants and your outdoor plants and help them adjust to their new environment.
Whether you are worried about your small succulent collection or you are a certified plant lady (or plant-daddy), rest assured that these tips for moving plants and for expert planting from Tim Moore, lead editor of Backyard Boss, will help keep your plants safe and secure throughout the moving process.
Spoiler alert! Before you get our hands dirty, it’s important to keep in mind that due to government regulations, moving companies are not allowed to move plants across state lines. If you’re moving long distance, or across state lines, or you’re planning an intrastate move (a distance of over 100 miles within the same state), it would be kinder to your plants to transport them yourself. You will be able to give them the water and light they need while they are on the road. Another option is gifting your plants to local friends or relatives before you move out of state. Saying goodbye is hard, but your plants might prefer the climate they are accustomed to. The following tips are for caring for your plants while moving locally, or moving within the same state (intrastate move).
Protect your plants before the move
- Water your plants the day before they will be transported. Keeping the soil hydrated will keep the roots loose
and reduce any shocks during transport. - Wrap your plants in a cone shaped form to keep all its leaves and soil from falling out or breaking. This step is especially important for orchids or fragile and delicate plants that need their space.
- Measure your plants and find the right kind of moving box to prepare for transport. If your potted plants are small, fit various pots into a book box. Leave the lid open and fill the spaces in between the pots with packing paper or eco-bubble. Ideally, the box would be tall enough to protect the stems, branches or leaves while leaving enough clearance for the plants to breath.
- Larger or taller plants are more easily transported in individual moving boxes.
- To learn more about moving box sizes, consult our chart and find the perfect box for each of your plants.
- Make sure your movers are aware of which moving boxes are full of plants. Keep your moving boxes full of plants labeled and open for easy identification. Do not stack these boxes on top of each other. Experienced movers will find the safest spot on the moving truck. Place boxes so there is minimal shifting and no danger of being crushed by other items.
Timing is everything when you move your plants
- If you are moving your garden plants, have portable planters ready to go with fertilized soil and a hole for the roots. Water the soil of the new planter thoroughly and allow the soil to turn into mud. This will allow the roots to sink into the new soil and help absorb the shock of the transplant. Let the water drip through before placing pots in moving boxes. Avoid any water leakage as it can reduce the integrity of a moving box. Perennials or annual plants are more likely to thrive if they are transplanted during the cooler weather months.
- If you are moving any flowering perennials you should wait till after their flowering cycle. If they are moved too roughly, buds can be disturbed and fall off before blooming.
Keep your plants thriving in their new home
- Create a floor plan of your new home that allows you to analyze the exposure to sunlight, wind and warmth. Plan out the location of each plant in your new home according to the conditions it had in your previous home. For example, if your fiddle fig leaf tree was healthy and thriving where it got morning sun, find a similar spot in your new home to ensure it will adapt to its new surroundings.
- While there are many urgent things to figure out after a move, unpacking your plants should be at the top of your list. Your leafy green friends need their space to breathe and grow. Leaving them in the moving boxes for an extended period could cause them to get sick or die.
- You can reduce the shock on your plants by not moving them too much around your new house. Most likely, you will rearrange furniture and decor until it feels right, but keep in mind, plants need stability. Restrict the number of times you move your plants around your new home.
- If you’ve moved to a more arid climate or just want to save on water costs, think about setting up drought resistant landscaping. Your plants and the earth will thank you!
- Another way to save water and keep your vegetable garden thriving is to create an aquaponics system. Your family and neighbors will appreciate the fresh, organic produce!
- If some of your plants regrettably did not survive the journey, you can try to propagate a new one from a cutting or a part of a branch.
Moving your plants is a definite way to make your new place feel like home. We know they do more than just improve air quality; they add life and bring joy to your new space. After your move, have fun with indoor gardening by expanding your house plant collection and adding more cool plants to your home. Check out what are the best plants for better air quality in your new home with the help of the Backyard Boss. And if you discover that you’ve got your indoor garden covered but feel overwhelmed by managing all that outdoor space, fear not! There are companies that offer great home care services for your outdoor garden.
Now that you are an expert on moving your plants, check out our packing tips and videos to move the rest of your belongings safely. Need expert help packing? Our packing pros can do as much or as little as you need. Learn how our packing services can be tailored to your moving needs.
About our Guest Contributor: Tim Moore is the lead editor of Backyard Boss and is a lifelong backyard enthusiast. He grew up immersed in the outdoors, camping every weekend and tending to the backyard with his family. Follow Tim and Backyard Boss on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for everyday inspiration for your backyard.