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Tips for Packing and Transporting Plants

Plants are delicate items and need extra care and attention when moving. In addition to that, plants are also living creatures and cannot simply be wrapped, tagged ‘fragile’ and shipped away like you would your fine china crystals.

Before you start packing your plants for transport, you should first check if they are permitted to enter into your new state. Some states have restrictions on the type of plants that can be brought in. Of course this is only for people who have special species of plants. Most everyday plants from a shop are usually fine.

Have knowledge of the climate of your new place and determine whether or not your plants will be able to survive. If you are very keen on taking them even though the climate is unsuitable, make sure you have proper arrangements made (a greenhouse for example).

Preparing your plants.
Start preparing your plants at least a week before you are due to move. Remove plants from their ceramic pots and shift them to unbreakable plastic pots. Ceramic pots get damaged easily during transport. Clean out the ceramic pots and pack them separately using moving supplies like bubble wrap®.

Inspect your plants for insects and disease. If there is some threat, use appropriate treatments to get rid of the problem before the move.

Keeping plants hydrated is important but do not water them just before the move. In fact don’t water them at all on moving day. Water all your plants the day before you are to leave. This will prevent leakage during transport, which may damage other belongings. Also it will keep the plants at the right temperature. Too much humidity from the soil in a closed area can raise temperatures considerably, harming the plants.

Packing your plants.
Once the plants are prepared, it is time to get them properly packed. Using sturdy boxes are the best option for transporting them. Smaller plants can be placed together in one box with newspaper buffers between the pots. Larger plants should be kept in a separate box of a suitable size.

Before placing the plants, line the box with plastic sheet or plastic bags, this will prevent moisture from damaging the box itself. Also use newspaper as buffer and cushioning to prevent movement within the box. Make some holes in the tops and sides of the boxes to allow ventilation, and possibly some light, for the plant.

There are also some things that you should not do.

• Transport plants in your car trunk: This can expose your plants to severe temperatures causing damage. It will also prevent them from having fresh air.

• Leave plants in your vehicle overnight: Low temperatures at night can harm plants. If you have to stop somewhere for the night, bring the plants in your room.

• Overwater: Never overwater your plants. During transport overwatering can be even more harmful due to confined space.

Unpacking.
Unpack your plants carefully starting from the larger ones. Mark boxes that contain plants clearly and never stack them over each other.

Once unpacked, leave the plants in the plastic containers for a few days to allow them to adjust. When you feel they are getting along well, shift them to their ceramic pots.

These tips will help you transport your plants safely and efficiently. Nothing can liven up your new house more than healthy plants. Take care of them.