66% of consumers in the United States own at least one houseplant, according to one survey from Civic Science. The two main reasons for such a high percentage are improved air quality and calming aesthetics. However, when moving to a new house, packing up all of your beloved indoor plants can seem like a daunting endeavor. From the logistics involved to what you should know before traveling, here are just a few things to keep in mind in order to ensure your plants make it to your new home in one piece.
The power of planning ahead
Before moving your houseplants, planning ahead by giving them the proper care is a great way to ensure they’re ready for the journey. That said, providing proper plant maintenance is a great way to do this, and should be done a few weeks before your moving date. This should involve pruning your houseplants, which can make for less stress and ensure your plants are in good shape while you focus on getting settled in your new home. Taking additional steps, such as repotting your plants in plastic can make for a lighter and easier move, and will allow you to properly wrap and pack your heavier, more breakable plants away safely until you arrive at your new home.
Because proper care of houseplants requires regular maintenance, ensuring that you physically clean the leaves before and after moving is a great way to keep your plants looking fresh and healthy. While there is no hard and fast rule when it comes to giving your plants a good cleaning, those wondering how to clean house plant leaves properly should check the leaves for visible dust and debris every time the plants are watered.
Rubbing the leaves in between your fingers is a great way to determine whether or not a good scrubbing is needed, and the actual cleaning should be done with the proper tools – aka a spray bottle, a microfiber cloth (or paper towel), mild soapy liquid, a soft duster or brush, and a stiffer brush to clean the plant pots.
From plant size to weather
When preparing to move to your new home with your houseplants intact, how you pack your plants will determine whether or not they make it safely to your new residence. With that in mind, the size of your plants can play a role in how you go about doing this. For example, smaller plants — such as little potted cactuses or flowers — can easily be transported in a box nestled closely together. Depending on how large the box is, transporting smaller plants can easily be done by putting them in the front passenger seat. Depending on the season, The Sill notes that transporting your smaller plants in the front seat can make for an easy-access way to give them a bit of heat or AC.
When it comes to larger plants, The Sill goes on to say that taking similar steps can be done, though notes that taller plants can end up slightly uprooted — meaning you’ll have to replant them once settled. When packing up taller plants, HGTV recommends packing sphagnum moss into the top of each pot, then proceeding to wrap each pot with plastic and securing it with string and tape so that the plant can then be tipped on its side for mess-free vehicle transport.
In regards to the weather, HGTV goes on to recommend treating plants like pets, especially during long car trips, and notes that wrapping plants with newspaper before loading them is vital when moving in winter months (as even a few seconds of extreme cold can injure a plant).
Prepping for a long distance move
While moving your plants to your new residence can be rather simple if it’s a short drive, those who are moving further away may need to take additional steps into consideration when planning to move with plants. For example, when moving to a different state or even country, doing your research when it comes to the laws and regulations in regards to your plants is essential when planning to move. When moving to different states, Apartment Therapy notes “The US Department of Agriculture requires inspections of plant materials crossing some state lines due to pest controls and local bans on growing particular indoor plants,” highlighting just how vital it is to ensure you’re in compliance. When looking to move to another country, keep in mind that some destinations may have certain plants banned altogether.
Moving can be a stressful challenge as it is, though when planning to bring your plants along with you, the endeavor can be even more so — especially if you’re new to owning houseplants. By planning ahead accordingly and keeping factors (such as plant size and destination rules and regulations) in mind, you can gain peace of mind in knowing that your plants will successfully join you at your new home.
We hope you found this blog post How to Successfully Move Your Houseplants to Your New Home useful. Be sure to check out our post Why We Need Plants And How To Take Care Of Them for more great tips!
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