How to Move With Plants: Expert Tips to Keep Them Alive
Moving with plants isn’t always as simple as packing boxes — it takes extra care to make sure they arrive safely and thrive in their new environment. Whether you’re relocating across town in Austin, heading to the mountains of Denver, or making a cross-country move from Seattle, learning how to move plants properly takes some planning and care. In this guide, we’ll cover practical tips on how to safely move your plants as you transition to your new home.
Water and trim your plants ahead of time
Before you begin the process of moving, you’ll want to prepare your plants for the change. Regardless of how long they will be out of the sun or traveling in a moving van, it is necessary to clean them up and take special care of them before moving.
Home Of The Brave Moving Company says, “About a week before your move, reduce watering to help the soil dry out, making them easier to transport.” Simon Cooper, managing director of SC Gardening adds, “Check for pests, and water them a day or two ahead.” Joshua Stach of Chesapeake Moving cautions, “Make sure not to overwater them as this would create soggy and heavy pots.”
“Before your move, give your plants a little TLC,” Sonya Cauley of All Ways Moving advises. “Trim any dead leaves so they’re fresh and ready for their new home.” David D. Cohen of Divine Moving And Storage also advises to “Prune your plants beforehand to reduce stress and breakage during transit.”
Carefully pack your plants before moving
Transporting house plants can be a tricky part of any move due to the often fragile containers that they grow in as well as having loose soil that can spill out if not properly secured.
Briar Baughman, president of Off Load Moving, says to start by “separating the plants by size and wrapping the smaller pots in bubble wrap and medium-to-larger plants in moving blankets.” Anthony Koomson of Sebastian Moving recommends to “Use sturdy, lightweight containers to prevent damage, and protect leaves and pots during transport. Avoid placing them in a closed moving truck; instead, keep them in the climate-controlled cabin.”
“Choose sturdy boxes and cushion the plants with paper or soft material to protect the stems and leaves.” Quinn of Vermont Moving & Storage, Inc. says. “Label the boxes clearly so you are aware to unpack those boxes first.” Austin Moschler of VA Moving says. Lastly, move them onto the truck last so they may be the first item out at the destination.
Keep them safe during travel
The most important aspect to focus on when figuring out how to safely move your plants is keeping them protected and secure during the travel from your old home to your new one.
Crazy Plant Bae advises to “Position plants in a space that they won’t fall over and/or nothing will shift during the ride. Ideally pack them in a car rather than the moving truck. Treat your plants like a puppy, for a quick stop, leave the windows cracked. For longer stops, bring plants out with you. Always park in the shade when possible.”
“Make sure they are the last thing to go in the truck and the first to come out.” Sarah Goldsmith of Rooted Gardens says. “Be careful with delicate leaves; tuck any vining plants up into their pots and protect upright plants with newspaper nestled around them.”
Alizy Nawaz of Garden Chains adds, “If the trip duration is long, place the plants on the back side of the vehicle or in a place where shocks are less likely to occur. Utilize an air conditioner or heater in the case of cold weather conditions outside.”
Avoid shocking your plants
“Your new home may have different air quality, light levels, and humidity than your previous space,” Maddie of Charming Movers says. When moving into a new home, take the time to allow your houseplants to acclimate to their new environment.
Joe and Jacob of Nice Plants Good Pots advise, “Once in your new home, be cautious about positioning plants near vents or drafty areas, as both hot and cold drafts can harm them. Additionally, placing plants too close to bright southern or western windows may expose them to intense sunlight, leading to leaf burn,” Sebastian Waite of Set Apart Farm & Gardens adds. “Give them a few days in bright, indirect light to acclimate slowly and recover from the move. After that, ease them into their usual routine while watching for signs of stress like leaf drop or wilting.
“One of the most overlooked aspects of moving with houseplants is the air they’ll breathe once they arrive. Fredericka Decuir, relocation manager at 2 Brothers Services Inc., points out. “We recommend refreshing the air in your new space before bringing them inside. Plants respond to air quality just like people do — our air purification services can help eliminate lingering toxins from previous tenants or renovations, creating a healthy environment for both plants and people from day one.”
Continue to nurture them
Moving plants from one environment to another can startle your plants, regardless of how much effort and caution you put in to take care of them. Don’t worry – this is a common side effect.
“It’s very common for certain species to shed a few leaves during this process.” Ryan of Canopy Plant Co says. “Don’t worry though, with a little time, your plants will settle right into their new home.”
In order to avoid permanently hurting any of your plants, Caroline Maurer, CFO (Chief Floral Officer) of Figment Cottage Gardens, has a few tips to help: “If plants suffer damage during the move, use sharp shears to cut back to healthy growth. This will help them heal faster and minimize shock to your plants. Many houseplants can be multiplied by propagation. This is a great time to use those cuttings to make more house plants.”
Some moving companies don’t transfer plants
In many states across the U.S., the USDA and Department of Transportation (DOT) regulate the commercial transport of certain plants across state lines to help prevent the spread of invasive species and plant diseases. These regulations vary by state but are often enforced through state agriculture departments and federal guidelines.
“Typically, house plants are some of the last few items to be loaded because they are fragile, do not pack well, and can take up valuable space on the truck.” Justin Revland, marketing manager at Hornet Moving notes. “Additionally, this puts less stress on the organism because it spends less time outside of its usual growing environment. Our company policy unfortunately does not allow us to transport house plants because of some of these reasons.
At Charming Movers, we love greenery — but due to DOT regulations and potential pest transfer risks, we do not move live houseplants for our clients,” Maddie of Charming Movers says. “We advise our clients to transport them personally, and prepare plants by pruning excess foliage, inspecting for pests, and placing them in breathable, spill-proof containers.”
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