If you and your family are going to be moving to a new home in the near future, you undoubtedly already know that you'll be packing your clothing, electronics, books, furniture, and other household items. If you're a houseplant lover, however, you may have questions about how to get your indoor garden from your current home to your new one without damaging the plants. Following are three things you need to know about moving your houseplants:
Use a Climate-Controlled Moving Van
Many houseplants are extremely sensitive to temperature extremes. If it's a hot day, even an hour or two in the closed environment of a moving van has the potential to kill the average houseplant, and they don't fare any better in cold conditions. If you're just moving across town, consider taking your plants with you in the car rather than loading them into a moving van. For moves that are farther away, getting a climate-controlled moving van will help ensure that your plants make it to their destination intact and healthy.
Know the Regulations
If you're moving to a different state, check with their Department of Agriculture to see if any regulations exist concerning transporting houseplants across state lines. California, in particular, has strict rules about what types of plant material can and cannot be brought into the state. If the state you're relocating to requires that your plants be officially inspected before you can bring them into the state, the Department of Agriculture in your current state and schedule a time for a plant inspector to visit your home and issue the necessary certificate. Always ensure that your plants are free of pests and diseases before the inspection takes place, or you may not get the green light to take your plants to your new home.
Repot Your Plants in Lightweight Plastic Containers for the Move
If you've got large specimen plants such as ficus or rubber trees that are growing in decorative ceramic or clay planters, chances are that they're extremely heavy -- and the heavier an item is during a move, the greater the chances of it somehow becoming damaged while in transit. Repotting them in lightweight plastic pots for the duration of the move makes them much easier to lift and handle.
Please feel free to reach out to your local moving company at your convenience to for more tips and tricks on how to make your upcoming move go as smoothly as possible. Contact local moving services for more information and assistance.
