House plants are living organisms, so moving is stressful for them too. Any plant lover wants to find their plants alive after the move. Use the following tips to ensure that they arrive at the new living place healthy.

Know state guidelines and laws

If you are moving to another state, you should check state regulations and laws concerning importing house plants. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (USDA APHIS PPQ) and the plant health agencies regulates the shipment of the plants in order to minimize the spread of harmful insects, diseases, and other pests. Therefore, you should check what rules and regulations are applied in the state you are moving to.

Prepare plants for the move

You cannot just take pots and get them into the car. Plants are sensitive! So, you have to prepare their relocation in advance. It is recommended to repot your plants into plastic pots because they are easier to lift. Move your plants into new pots a couple of weeks before the move because they need time to settle in into a new pot.

A few days before the move, you need to water your plants because you do not want them to dry out during the move. However, you do not want to water them too much. It might result in molding.

Finally, put your plants into boxes and make sure that they are not moving around. Protect pots by adding stuff paper or bubble wrap. Also, keep these boxes open to ensure that they won’t be crushed.

Know what your plants need

When you move house plants and want to keep them alive, you should know about their needs, such as watering frequency and temperature. As mentioned before, you should water your plants before the move. Keep in mind that the majority of plants can survive 7-10 days without water. However, if you own some needy plants, make sure that you can water them during the transition.

Keeping an appropriate temperature is also important. It’s recommended to move plants in a temperature-controlled environment, such as your car. It helps to avoid cold, heat or humidity.

Arriving at your new home

Do not rush to repot your plants into ceramic pots. Let your plants to adjust to the new environment first. We know that plastic pots might not go well with the interior. However, repotting might be stressful for your plants after the move.