Moving house plants

We invest a great deal of time and money caring for the plants in our homes, when it comes to a house move the thought of their transportation can have our nerves jangling. There might be plants in your home that you have grown from seed or cutting, perhaps you have rescued a plant or plants back from the brink of death. There are many reasons why the plants in our homes can hold a special place in our hearts. This article will help you ensure that during a house move your plants stand the best chance of getting to your new property in the same condition they left the old one.

Preparation

How far is your move? How long will your plants be in storage? Some plants are quite happy to go without any care for extended periods of time and others really must be tended frequently. For those that need more attention, think about taking care of their move yourself so you have more control over how they are handled. There might even be the option of leaving them under the care of a trusted neighbour and coming back for them when you have your new house in order.

Downsizing

If you are downsizing and have large indoor plants in pots you might need to ask yourself if you really can or need to take them. It can be very difficult to let go of plants and favourite tubs but if you like them, other people will too. You might find you can easily sell attractive plants, especially mature ones. Pass the word around regarding what you have for sale, put up notices in shops etc. You might then be able to pass some plants on to someone else who will love and tend to them and end up with some money in your pocket too.

Before you pack

Your plants should be packed up as late as possible in the move so they are stressed and restricted for the minimal amount of time. If the plants need it ensure you give them plenty of water and allow it to drain before packing.

Packing Many removal companies are very good at packing plants, check if yours has experience. If you are self moving or you?d prefer to do it yourself though, here are some tips.

For young plants in small pots the wooden trays or cardboard boxes that apples come packed in are very useful. Load the pots into one and place another upside down on top to provide more protection, make sure you give them some water before they go in and that there is a gap to let them have air and light, secure the two halves together with packing tape.

Larger plants can be more of a challenge but there are some great resources out there. There are specialist companies making odd (e.g. tall) sized cardboard boxes who are easy to find with an internet search, you could also cut up another box to make it suitable. Bushy plants can be gathered gently and held together by string temporarily, put your plant in the box and slide the box up to hold the foliage in place, remove the temporary string. This is easier than it sounds and for taller plants you can cut the box, wrap it round the base, secure it and then slide it up.

If you are putting multiple plants into one box then you can use bubble wrap or balled up newspaper to keep them apart. Cutting the tops off large carbonated drinks bottles can also make for useful protection; make sure there are plenty of holes for the plants to get air though. We hope you?ve found the above tips useful and that your plants remain safe and sound during any move and thrive in their new home.

Jess Collins is an avid gardening, home improvement and DIY enthusiast. She writes for a number of online blogs on these subjects and is now working for a top removal company in the UK,The Man With Van Network.