Tips for Moving Your Plants in Chicago

House plants make a home feel welcoming and alive. If you love greenery around your home, you probably keep plants as an important part of the household and you can’t part with them quite easily.

If you want to move your plants, you need to pay special care and attention. Spend some time to ponder if your plants can actually survive during the move and if they can’t, be sure to find a nice, new home for them.

There are some things you need to consider when you’re moving between states or countries. At times, plants are not allowed to move. For instance, those who plan to move from California to Canada may find that potted fruit trees are prohibited. In such cases, you can just leave your plants in someone else’s care.

Thus, before deciding to move your plants with you, determine which species are allowed in the new place or country. The last thing you would want to experience is to be forced to leave your precious plants with the border guard who may not be that environmentally friendly enough to take good care of your darlings.

Additionally, you should be aware that most moving companies do not provide coverage for damages to plants since these are just too fragile and are most likely to get damaged during transit. Furthermore, certain movers may even prohibit plants on their moving trucks. Make sure to ask the company if they have specific rules about moving plants.

Moving the plants yourself is another available option for you. Prepare sturdy, durable boxes, line them using plastic and put your plants inside. Between the box and the pot, stuff some foam cushioning or bubble wrap to ensure that your plant stays put and does not shift during the move. Position them in your car’s back seat; taller plants should be placed on the floor. By moving them yourself, you can have a better peace of mind since you can keep watch on them. If you’re going to stay overnight in a motel, be sure to check the weather since cold temperature can cause damages to your fragile plants. Just move them indoors along with you.

Planning is essential in every moving process and if you’ve done it right, you should have sufficient time to repot and transfer your plants into plastic containers. Don’t forget that plants require some time to adjust and heal from re-potting so be sure to do it a few weeks before the move. Bag tall plants or wrap them in plastic. Poke a few holes in the plastic so your plants can be allowed to breathe.

If you’re planning to move a few of your outdoor plants but you want to avoid depleting the new owner’s garden, it would be good to take some cuttings. Buy floral tubes, put some water, and then cap them. Through this, your cuttings can reach your new home safely and ready for your new garden.

Once you reach your new place, remove the plastic from your plants immediately. Take them out of the boxes and provide them with some plant food and water. Wait for at least a week to put them back to their original pots, if you had repotted them to plastic containers. Be careful and patient as your plants could die or suffer from stunted growth if distressed.

Observe those new plants that you plant in your new garden. Check if their health is affected by differences in air quality, soil and climate. If you experience any problems with their growth, call in some help from an expert.

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