Tips For Preparing Your Plants For Moving Day

While preparing to move, you may look around and notice your houseplants, causing you to wonder how you can move them safely. If so, use the following tips for preparing your plants for moving day.

Transfer the Plants to Durable Plastic Containers

One of the first things you can do to prepare your plants for your move should be done a few weeks before the big day. Transfer the plants to durable plastic containers that can withstand the jostling and minor impacts which normally happen when moving them around.

This is an especially important task if your current pots are ceramic or clay. These materials are more likely to chip, crack, or even shatter.

Repotting your plants a few weeks before moving day gives them a chance to get over the shock of being transplanted. If you do repot right before the move, the additional stress of being moved around and vibrations from the vehicles could set their growth back a few years or even kill them.

Water the Plants a Couple of Days before Moving

Up until a couple of days before the move, you can water your plants as usual. However, once you are within two days of the move, water them one last time. If you water the day of the move, you will probably have a mess on your hands as the water and wet dirt slosh around in either your car or the moving truck.

During this final watering, make sure you do not overwater. A couple of days may not be enough time to dry the dirt out enough to keep from making a mess. 

Pack the Tops of the Pots with Moss

If you are concerned about keeping your plants hydrated, pack moss on the tops of the pots the day before you move. The moss will help keep the dirt moist, protecting your plants from drying out.

If it will take more than a few hours to reach your new home, wrap the pots with plastic, and loosely tie the tops around the base of the plants. The plastic will slow down the evaporation of the water and help keep the soil moist during the long trip.

Using the above tips can help keep your plants healthy while they are in transit to your new home. For more information about moving with houseplants, as well as discuss any services that can help, speak with a representative with the moving service you plan on using.