Protect Your Houseplants When Moving to a New Home

Tips to Protect Your Houseplants When Moving to A New Home

Moving to a new home in a new city can be quite stressful on anyone. Packing everything you own isn’t an easy task. Then you have to worry about unpacking it and putting it all in its proper place. Not to mention all the other things involved with uprooting your family and moving to a new location. While people often spend hours packing their Grandma’s china, they often neglect to properly pack their houseplants for a move. By following these simple tips for packing and moving your houseplants you can be sure that they will arrive at their new home safely.

Tip #1

A few weeks before you are scheduled to move, transplant all of your plants in glass pots into unbreakable pots. While it might seem like a good idea to repot the plant into smaller pots to save space, it can do a lot of damage to the plant. It’s best to keep the pot as close to the same size as the original pot as you can. A different sized pot could cause shock to the plant which can stunt growth and even kill the plant.

Tip #2

It’s also a really good idea to prune your plants a few weeks before moving. Pruning larger plants can help avoid breakage of the stems or vines during the move. And, pruning is really good for your plants. It can make them stronger and give them more volume. If you have some houseplants that you just do not want to prune, you can place a large garbage bag over them until you get them to their new home. Just remember to remove the bag as soon as they are relocated.

Tip #3

At least one week before moving inspect all of your houseplants to make sure they’re not infested with pests. Look for any signs of leaf damage and if you suspect the plant has bugs or mites, treat it to keep from moving them into your new home. Most pests can be easily removed with a simple soap and water solution applied with a spray bottle. If you are not sure how to treat the plant, do some research so you won’t do more harm than good.

Tip #4

With a little extra care, houseplants can safely be moved in cardboard boxes. If you have a lot of plants in small containers, you might want to consider picking up some packing boxes made for dishes. These boxes have compartments that can be adjusted to fit the size of your pot. To keep the plants from sliding while being moved, place a non-skid material under the pot. Dampened packing paper can be wrapped around the base of the plant to retain moisture. It can also be used to help cushion the leaves. Once you’ve got your plant packed, make a few holes in the sides and top of the box to allow for airflow.

Tip #5

Never transport your houseplants in the trunk of your car especially if you will be traveling for a long distance. Often, carbon monoxide which can be deadly to your plants will gather in the trunk. Keep the plants inside the car, or truck with you and make sure they get lot’s of fresh air. Just make sure that you block the boxes with something so they can’t slide around.

Written by Connie Corder, Copyright 2010 HousePlantsForYou.com