How to transport plants when moving house?

Some items require more attention than others when moving house. That’s especially true for plants, which need special care.

Poor conditions during transport could damage that cactus or monstera you’ve watched grow for so long.

Fortunately, there are ways to move your plants safely.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to transport and protect your plants when moving house, and how to look after them when you move in your new home.

It is not forbidden to move with your plants. However, plants are never covered by the insurance provided by moving companies, as they are considered too fragile.

Similarly, many of these companies simply refuse to transport and handle them.

If you have plants you don’t want to part with, be sure to tell your service provider in advance.

They will be able to give you details on the contact clauses and take the volume of your plants into account during their preliminary visit.

Finally, if you’re moving abroad, make sure to do some research about the rules for bringing plants into the country.

Indeed, many plants cannot cross certain borders because they are toxic, invasive or carriers of disease.

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The first aspect to consider is the season in which you are moving.

It’s best to move outdoor plants in winter and indoor plants in summer.

If you’re moving in the spring, we recommend that you prune the branches of the largest plants a week prior to reduce the volume and prevent branches from breaking off in the back of the moving truck.

Don’t forget to give your plants a last watering four or five days before the move, and to empty all the saucers so that there’s no spillage in the boxes.

You’ll also be doing the movers a favour by lightening a bit that giant euphorbia or ten-year-old ficus elastica.

In any case, be prepared to leave a few plants behind. Not all of them are equal when it comes to moving. And some might not be able to adapt to your new home.

If you have any doubts, it may be preferable to donate them to friends or neighbours with similar sun exposure.

Just like moving an aquarium, protecting your plants is essential to ensure they survive the trip.

Plants will be subject to changes in temperature, light, humidity, and draughts.

To make sure you don’t lose too many plants in the battle, make sure you have the following equipment at hand:

• Boxes of different sizes to store your plants

• Plastic bags to hold the potting soil

• Protection canvas or kraft paper to wrap and insulate your plants.

When closing the packaging, remember to spray the foliage and soil to add a little moisture.

Then puncture the containers to let air flow in and out, and be sure to label these packages as “Fragile”.

If your plants are too big or too tall to fit inside a cardboard box, wrap them in kraft paper or bin liners, with attach points on the main stem.

To move plants from your garden, you can either take cuttings or dig them up.

The first option is the easiest, all you need to do is cut a sprig the day before you move and place it in a damp cotton wool or kitchen roll.

If you opt for the second option, make sure to dig around the plant to retain enough roots as well as moist soil, then place the plant in a pot or bag for transport.

Now that your plants are wrapped, place them in the boxes and insert bubble wrap or newspaper between each pot to reduce the risk of impacts.

Be especially careful with terracotta pots, which are very fragile.

Finally, load your plants into the moving truck last, so that you can take them out easily when you arrive and store them in a bright, low-traffic spot at your new home.

To transport climbing plants or very large plants, place one of your hands under the pot and the second on the wrapping you’ve installed around the plant.

Did the packing and transport phases go smoothly? Great, but the process isn’t over yet.

Your plants will now have to gradually adapt to your new home. So you’ll need to be on your toes for a few more weeks at the very least.

Start by replanting your outdoor plants as soon as possible and water them abundantly.

For indoor plants, try to find an environment that is as similar as possible to that of your old home.

Repot some plants if necessary, and look out for any signs of wilting, yellowing, browning or even leaf drops.