Plants Galore Make the World Go Round (But Are a Pain to Move!)

Follow our guide and tips to make sure your monstera doesn't die along the way to your new home. Plants can be finicky, but with some proper knowledge, you can move them like a pro.

The Best Way to Ship Plants Safely

When moving to a new home in order to feel at home, you need to have your garden made up in a way that feels right for you. It’s a shame to just leave all your old plants, so let's talk about how we can ease the stress on them during the journey.

This is an article for all those plant lovers out there. Unite! You aren’t just a crazy plant lady, you are actually providing health benefits in your new home for the family.


Important things to note

  • Most moving companies don’t accept 
  • Moving plants during extreme weather should be avoided as the plants will already be under stress and this will add to issues.
  • Be patient, your plants may need a few weeks to fully recover from the journey.
  • Certain states ban certain plants due to pests. If you have any questionable plants, google it or ask your mover who may know.
  • Aim for a climate-controlled van that can help transport your plants to your new home if there are too many to take in your personal car
  • You can also air-ship your plants if no other option works, but this is costly and their survival isn’t guaranteed. Label the plant with perishable and fragile stickers if you are going with this option.  

How to move your plants?

When moving homes, there is one member of the family that you can’t simply box up and hope for the best. With careful planning and preparation, you can ensure that your plants arrive safely at your new home and blossom.

  • Start by pruning and taking care of your plants in their current condition and location. Take off the dead leaves. Give the entire plant a haircut and trim off any straggler leaves and branches. This will help reduce the energy used to try and regrow the branch and overall reduce stress on your plant. 
  • Wrap your plants in newspaper or bubble wrap / place them in cartons in a manner that they are not too scrunched together. It is important to take special care of the roots and make sure they aren’t over-watered but are moist at all times. 
  • Water your plants 2 days before the move. You don’t want them dripping wet making a huge mess, and you don’t want to accidentally drown the roots, but a moist plant is a happy plant.
  • Ensure to pack them in a way that they will avoid extreme temperatures. A long extended stay in the car with direct sun for a plant that has lived its entire life in the shade is enough to weaken it. Keep your plants shaded and well-ventilated. 
  • Use fresh soil to replant your plants at the earliest possible convenience. The longer they sit in their temporary transport containers the more stress you are causing them. If possible in the meantime keep them in an open-air and shaded area. Water your repotted plants once you have finished their planting.

The simplest plants even you won’t end up killing

We get it, we have also killed many a cactus in our years, but try these to feel like less of a failure and get your green thumb going. There are many low-maintenance options that are quite easy to care for.

Here are some simple plants that are forgiving:

  • Snake plant
  • Spider plant
  • Plant lily
  • Photos
  • Succulents
  • Cast iron plants
  • Cactus of many types

Plants for pro gardeners

So you’ve kept most alive, have you? Look at you pro gardener, try these plants if you think you are up for a challenge.

If you are trying to expand your exotic plant collection, here are some plants that can be quite demanding but very rewarding.

  • Orchid lilies
  • Exotic fruit trees
  • Bonsai trees
  • Tropical flowering plants
  • Foreign moss
  • Succulents
  • Water lilies

Reasons to have plants around

  • Plants improve your air quality by removing harmful pollutants and toxins from the air, such as benzene and formaldehyde. Breathe better thanks to your garden.
  • Boost your wellness with plants. Improved mood and heightened emotional well-being have been reported thanks to having plants around. Indoor plants as well can help stop feelings of sadness, depression, and loneliness by providing a beautiful connection to nature.
  • Help improve your productivity. Plants are shown to help reduce mental fatigue and improve concentration abilities, which leads to better performance overall. 
  • Reduce your stress and anxiety levels. Plants are connected with calmness and tranquility, helping to alleviate anxiety and overall stress in your life. Go green or go home!
  • Believe it or not, plants can be a beneficial part of the healing process. Research suggests having plants in healthcare facilities can aid in speeding up the healing process and reduce recovery time for the sick. Hospital rooms decorated with green plants have been found to connect with patients there experiencing less pain, anxiety, and stress levels.

Closing off the leaves

Overall,  keeping plants around contributes to a healthier lifestyle by improving air quality, reducing stress, boosting energy levels, and providing many other physical and psychological benefits. Wherever possible, incorporating greenery into our surroundings has a positive impact on our well-being, so go plant crazy! When moving, be sure to take special care of your healthy friends.


FAQ

Host a garage sale and online sale of your objects! You can post photos and prices and always take them down if sold live. This is a great way to rehome your plants that are too difficult to bring on the move.

We suggest bringing them in the least stressful way possible in your personal car with their bed and familiar items to remove stress.

Involve your kids in the entire process, from decision-making to calling the utilities, to packing up and designing the new home.

The more they are a part of and feel responsible for certain aspects, the more they will feel they are helping accomplish a common goal.

Mindfulness and breathing techniques are recommended when going through many changes. Preplanning and understanding clearly the tasks at hand is a good way to keep stress levels to a minimum.

Use iMoving’s mover marketplace to find only vetted and trusted movers in all areas of the USA, even area’s you’ve never heard of!


Rachel Kaplan

Rachel has spent the last few years writing for moving companies while actually moving across the globe. After many years of moving between many states in the US, she moved abroad to try the remote work life. She’s a pro at moving all her things with her dog and hundreds of plants. Thankfully she’s a minimalist so moves aren’t too much of an issue.

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