There’s a lot involved in the moving process. While relocating might be exciting, there’s also the not-so-little matter of making sure that your precious belongings arrive there in one piece. Among them are your houseplants. Houseplants can be tough and hardy, but they also require a little bit of extra TLC and attention when they’re on the move. Here are a few extra measures you can take to ensure they look their best in your new space!
Leading Up to Moving Day
Get started on your houseplant moving strategy in advance. This ensures that they’ll survive the journey and continue to thrive when they reach their destination. Begin about three to four weeks beforehand by moving anything that is in a clay pot to a plastic pot. The idea here is to prevent the pots from shattering, a significant risk when you’re moving heavy clay. Make sure that the pot is labeled “shatter-proof.”
A couple of weeks before you move, begin to prune your houseplants. Remove any decayed or dead limbs, flowers, and leaves with gardening shears. This ensures that you aren’t transporting unhealthy plants and that they’re lighter and easier to move without any unnecessary bulk. You will need to prune them at some stage anyway, but doing so before you move is optimal.
With about a week to go before moving day, examine all your houseplants for signs of insect infestations. Discolored leaves, changes in texture, and webbing beneath the leaves are all signs of a potential issue that should be carefully treated with insecticide prior to the move. If you prefer another method, you can dip cotton swabs in rubbing alcohol and apply them to the affected leaves. In some cases, using neem oil may be a more effective strategy for killing off larger infestations.
Two days before you move, water your plants if the soil feels dry. If it’s hard to tell, insert your fingertip into the substance — if it feels moist, you can forgo watering at this stage. Don’t overwater if you aren’t sure, however. Excess moisture can cause root rot and fungus growth if you’re moving during the warmer months, and it can encourage plants to freeze in the winter.
Houseplant Care on Moving Day
Either the evening before your movers arrive or the morning of the big relocation, prepare your houseplants for the journey. If you have larger plants that require more coverage, you can use an old sheet to loosely wrap them and keep the branches in one piece during transport. Tissue paper is a suitable choice for draping around smaller plants.
Set each plant in a box that’s properly sized. The pot should fit snugly inside without constricting the leaves or branches — this could throw off the shape of your houseplant while it’s in transit and leave it looking worse for wear upon arrival. If need be, you can add some filler around the pot to ensure that it doesn’t move. Crumpled-up paper will do the job nicely without risking the integrity of the plant.
Your plants need oxygen when they’re in the box — it’s vital to their survival! Puncture holes on each side of the box and the lid to give them some air. Keep the boxes upright and label each one with “HOUSEPLANT” and mark them as “FRAGILE” so that people know to take extra care while handling them.
Ideally, you should move your houseplants to your new location in your car instead of the moving truck. That will prevent them from jostling around. Maintain a moderate temperature while you drive, as excess heat or cold could cause damage to the plant depending on the duration of the drive.
Following these basic steps, you can be certain that your houseplants will survive the journey and continue to add natural beauty and style to your new home. Looking for a refresh in your new space? Shop PlantShed's large indoor plants that are sure to bring life to your new home. Pair your plant with a modern ceramic container and we will hand-deliver it to ensure the plant will thrive in your space.
