Learn how to prepare and pack potted plants for a move using simple techniques to ensure they arrive safely.
Moving your cherished potted plants requires careful preparation to protect their delicate leaves, stems, and roots. By following a few key steps, you can significantly reduce stress on your green companions during transit.
Essential Steps for Moving Potted Plants
Properly packing plants depends largely on their size and structure. Here's a breakdown of recommended methods based on plant size:
Preparing Larger Plants
Large potted plants with extensive foliage or delicate stems need gentle protection during handling and transport.
- Wrap Gently: Gently and loosely wrap large plants with an old cloth or packing paper. This simple step creates a buffer, shielding the leaves and stems from potential bumps and scrapes that can occur during moving. Ensure the wrap is loose enough not to crush the plant but secure enough to stay in place.
Packing Smaller Plants
Small potted plants are best moved together for stability and efficiency.
- Box Them Up: Pack small plants together in moving boxes taller than they are. Using a box that is taller than the plants prevents them from being crushed if other items are placed on top (though plants should ideally be a top layer).
- Secure Them Snugly: To prevent pots from shifting and damaging each other or the plants, ball up packing paper and place it between the containers to keep them snug. This fills empty spaces and absorbs shock during transit.
Additional Moving Tips for Plants
Beyond packing, consider these practical insights for a smooth plant move:
- Watering: Water your plants thoroughly a few days before the move, but avoid watering right before packing. This prevents soil from becoming excessively heavy and reduces the risk of leakage in the moving vehicle.
- Pruning: Trim back any dead or excessive foliage a week or two before moving. This reduces the plant's size and makes it easier to handle and pack.
- Timing: Try to load plants last onto the moving vehicle and unload them first at your new destination. This minimizes the time they spend in potentially non-ideal conditions like a dark moving truck.
- Labeling: Clearly label boxes containing plants as "Live Plants" and "This Side Up." This alerts movers to handle them with extra care and ensures they are kept upright.
- Climate Considerations: Be mindful of the weather. Extreme heat or cold can damage plants quickly. If possible, transport plants in a temperature-controlled environment or with you in your personal vehicle.
By combining careful packing techniques, like wrapping large plants and securing small ones in boxes with paper, with thoughtful preparation and handling, you can successfully move your potted plants to their new home.
