A Guide To Moving With Plants

by Vance Paz Professional Marketer

First of all, there are always alternatives to moving with your indoor plants: you may consider giving them to your friends, local libraries, hospitals or selling them. If you do plan on taking the plants you've nurtured for years, here is some expert advice.

Doing it yourself

If you move the plants on your own, you have more control over the environmental conditions than if you move them by any other means; But for longer distances, remember that your vehicle can be subject to extreme temperatures. Water them well before leaving them, as water can get into your vehicle and many plants can survive a week without water.

Ceramic pots filled with soil and plants can be bulky to move and are also easy to break. To protect expensive plants and pots, move the plants into plastic containers large enough for the size of the plant two to three weeks before your scheduled moving day.

Environmental factors

Some indoor plants are at risk of shock when relocated. The amount of time it moves or the time it travels will no longer cause the impact; the plant may take longer to recover.

Temperature is most important factor in moving indoor plants. Temperatures below 35 degrees F or above 95 degrees F for more than an hour can be deadly for many. Plants in properly folded cardboard boxes will withstand large variations in temperature.

Plants left in the dark for too long begin to show abnormal growth that is more susceptible to disease. When exposing plants to light after a long time in the dark, avoid sunburn by limiting direct sun exposure for the first handful of days.

Clippings

For convenience and space saving, you may only want to take cuttings of your favorite plants, if they can be propagated that way. Most cuttings will survive many days if stored in a plastic bag containing damp vermiculite, peat, or perlite, or even wrapped in a damp paper towel. However, potted plants are much more likely to make it through a long journey than cuttings.

Professional moving services

Many professional moving companies in Colorado accept plants under special rules that stipulate that plants are not transported more than 150 miles or that delivery is completed within a day of loading; does not need storage; and the moving company does not need to service the plant on the road.

If you plan to move indoor plants to another state in the USA, be aware of federal and state plant regulations.

Plant quarantines may exist in some areas to restrict the movement of plants that may harbor destructive pests. Learn how to quarantine a plant so you do it properly.

Before these plants can be moved, they must be cleaned by the appropriate federal or state plant protection officer. Some states require that indoor plants be inspected and certified "pest free" before they can be brought in. Other states do not require certification as long as the homes are owned by the individual and are not for resale. Others refuse the entry of all kinds.

You can arrange for a state department of agriculture inspector to look at your indoor plants. Call the department's county office and schedule an inspection before you move. In some cases, you may be able to bring your plants to an office for inspection and treatment in a fumigation room.