How to Move Plants
Whenever you are planning a major relocation you have to give some consideration to every item that will be moved.
At Gainesville Moving Company our staff understands that it is important to treat each of your items with care. This includes moving heavy furniture, large appliances, fragile china and even your cherished houseplants.
Let our experienced movers give you the assistance and guidance necessary to ensure that your relocation experience is made as easy as possible. Transporting houseplants to a new location requires planning if you want the plants to survive the trip.
The first thing that you should do is to check and make sure that your houseplants are not prohibited by law. States such as Texas, Florida and California have very strict agricultural guidelines and you do not want to inadvertently break a law by transporting a banned plant across state lines.
You might want to leave larger plants behind if you can take a few cuttings (or a portion of the root) instead.
There can be some extreme changes in temperature within the confines of a large moving van. Gainesville Movers suggest that you make arrangements to transport houseplants in an alternative vehicle where the temperature can be monitored and controlled.
A car (or passenger van) is an ideal solution. If the commute to your new home is less than 100-150 miles then the Gainesville team may be able to pack the houseplants along with your other possessions as the trip itself should only require a few hours to complete.
Heavy pots can be difficult to move, add to the overall weight of a vehicle and are prone to breakage. Transportation of bare-root plants is one option to consider. You might also consider placing your plants in light-weight plastic containers.
A sterilized potting soil is necessary for houseplants that are being transported long distances. In fact many states require these plants to be grown in an approved potting medium before they will allow them to cross their borders.
If you have leafy plants that can withstand the stress of pruning then you should shear the excess foliage before loading the plants into a vehicle.
Do not over-water the houseplants prior to a move. Plants are more likely to withstand a brief drought than being provided with too much water.
During colder weather a wet plant could freeze while it is being transported. Hot weather makes wet houseplants more susceptible to developing water-borne mold and fungal infections.
Always inspect your plants for the presence of fungi, bacteria or insects a few days before you are going to pack them for transport. If you bundle infected plants in close proximity with healthy specimens then those disease (or insect) problems could easily spread to all of the plants.
If you are planning to transport large plant specimens you will want to wrap the branches. A little paper or some old linens will be ideal for this wrapping task.
Smaller plants can be placed in an appropriately-sized box. You will have to add newspaper, packing peanuts or other materials to keep the containers from shifting and breaking. Do not forget to label the box, and punch enough holes into the top and sides to provide ventilation.
