Moving with plants takes a little more planning than moving a box of books. Houseplants can be sensitive to temperature changes, rough handling, changes in light, and long periods without their normal care. With the right preparation, though, you can give your plants a much better chance of arriving at their new home healthy and ready to settle in.
If you’re moving with plants, start by deciding which plants are worth transporting, preparing them before moving day, and planning how they’ll be protected during transportation. For a long-distance or interstate move, you’ll also want to check whether any plant-health restrictions apply to your route.
Key Takeaways
- Inspect plants for pests or signs of disease before packing them.
- Use lightweight, sturdy containers when possible and protect pots from tipping or breaking.
- Keep plants at a comfortable temperature during transportation and never leave them sitting in a hot or cold vehicle.
- Check state plant-movement requirements before an interstate move.
- Give plants time to adjust after arriving instead of immediately changing their location, pot, or care routine.
Before Moving: Prepare Your Plants
The easiest way to protect your plants on moving day is to start preparing them before the movers arrive.
Decide Which Plants You’re Taking
A move is a good opportunity to look at your plant collection and decide what is practical to transport. Very large, delicate, unhealthy, or difficult-to-transport plants may require additional planning.
For plants that are staying with you, inspect each one before packing. Look underneath leaves and around stems and soil for insects, egg masses, discoloration, or other signs of pests or disease. USDA APHIS recommends inspecting and cleaning plants before moving because plants can carry pests and pathogens even when they appear healthy.
If a plant is heavily infested or diseased, consider getting advice from a local extension office or plant-health professional before transporting it.
Give Plants Time to Adjust
Avoid making several major changes to a plant right before moving day. For example, moving a plant into a completely different pot, changing its light conditions, and altering its watering schedule all at once can create additional stress.
If a plant genuinely needs repotting, do it with enough time for the plant to settle into its new container before the move. For many plants, keeping the root ball and soil contained is more important than making the plant as light as possible.
Prune Only When It Helps
Removing dead leaves or damaged growth can make a large plant easier to handle, but avoid aggressive pruning simply because you’re moving.
The goal is to make the plant easier to transport without unnecessarily changing its growing conditions.
How to Pack Plants for Moving
The best packing method depends on the plant’s size, shape, and container.
Protect the Pot
For plants in breakable ceramic or decorative pots, consider transferring the plant to a sturdy plastic nursery pot before the move if the plant can tolerate the change.
For plants staying in their existing pots, protect the container with towels, blankets, paper, or other suitable padding. Make sure the soil stays contained and the pot cannot easily tip over.
Avoid sealing the plant inside an airtight covering. Plants still need adequate air circulation.
Secure Smaller Plants in Boxes
Small houseplants can often be grouped in sturdy boxes. Place cushioning material around the pots so they stay upright instead of sliding into one another.
Keep the plants close enough together that they cannot tip over, but don’t pack them so tightly that leaves and stems are crushed.
For taller plants, use a box that gives the foliage enough room. If you use a box around a plant, make sure it has adequate ventilation and can be safely handled without crushing the plant.
Protect Tall or Spreading Plants
Large plants present a different challenge because their foliage can extend well beyond the pot.
Gently gather particularly wide branches or stems if the plant allows it. Don’t force or tightly bind brittle growth. A loose covering can provide some protection from bumps and rubbing while the plant is being carried.
Before moving a large plant, consider the entire path from its current location to the vehicle. Tight doorways, stairways, corners, and low ceilings can create more risk than the actual transportation.
How to Transport Plants on Moving Day
Whenever possible, make plants one of the last things to leave your old home and one of the first things to come inside at the new one.
Keep Plants at a Moderate Temperature
Temperature is one of the biggest concerns when transporting houseplants.
Don’t leave plants sitting for an extended period in a hot vehicle, a freezing vehicle, or direct sunlight. This is particularly important during Colorado’s cold winters and hot, dry summers.
Colorado’s climate can be challenging for plants because of low humidity, drying winds, intense sunlight, and rapid weather changes.
If you’re moving during extreme weather, plan the transportation portion of the move so plants spend as little time as possible exposed to those conditions.
Keep Plants Upright
Plants should be secured so pots cannot roll, tip, or slide during transportation.
Don’t place heavy boxes or furniture on top of plant containers. Even if the pot itself survives, the weight can crush stems and foliage.
If you’re transporting plants yourself, a personal vehicle can make it easier to monitor temperature and positioning. Just remember that a parked vehicle can heat up or cool down quickly, even when the outside temperature doesn’t seem extreme.
Don’t Overwater Right Before Transportation
Avoid treating every plant the same when deciding when to water.
Some plants prefer consistently moist soil, while others need the soil to dry between waterings. Instead of following a blanket rule such as withholding water for a certain number of days, check each plant’s normal watering needs and aim for soil that is appropriate for that plant on moving day.
The goal is to avoid both an unnecessarily waterlogged pot and a severely dehydrated plant.
Moving Plants Across State Lines
An interstate move requires an additional step: checking plant-movement requirements.
Plant regulations can vary depending on the state, the plant, its growing medium, and current pest or disease quarantines. USDA APHIS notes that moving plants can spread pests and diseases and recommends checking applicable requirements before transportation.
Colorado’s Department of Agriculture also has a Plant Health Certification Program that handles questions involving interstate transportation of houseplants, permits to move live plants, and plant inspections.
If you’re moving from Colorado to another state, check the destination state’s current requirements before moving day. Don’t assume that a plant can cross every state line simply because it is a common houseplant.
For a long-distance move, this is worth doing well before the moving truck arrives.
Moving Plants During a Colorado Winter or Summer
Colorado weather deserves special consideration when you’re moving plants.
Winter Plant Moves
Freezing temperatures can damage many houseplants. During a winter move, minimize the amount of time plants spend outside between buildings and transportation.
Have the vehicle ready before bringing plants outside, and avoid leaving them on a loading area while other belongings are being moved.
If you’re moving to Colorado from a warmer climate, remember that your plants may also need time to adjust to Colorado’s lower humidity and different light conditions.
Summer Plant Moves
Summer heat presents the opposite problem. A closed vehicle can become dangerously hot, so plants shouldn’t be left sitting inside while you run errands or wait for a long period.
Keep plants out of intense direct sunlight during transportation when possible, and prioritize getting them into a temperature-controlled environment.
What to Do With Plants After the Move
Getting the plants through the front door is only half the job.
Unpack them as soon as reasonably possible and return them to an environment that fits their normal care requirements. Don’t assume that a plant needs to be moved immediately to a new location just because the new home has different windows.
Give plants time to settle in before making major changes to their watering, lighting, or potting routine.
If you’re moving plants into a home where you already have other houseplants, USDA APHIS recommends keeping transported plants separate for a couple of weeks and monitoring them for pests or disease before introducing them to the rest of your collection.
Watch for changes such as:
- Drooping or wilted leaves
- Yellowing or browning
- Leaf drop
- Insects or webbing
- Signs of fungal or other disease problems
Some adjustment is normal after a move, so don’t immediately assume a stressed-looking plant is dying. Give it stable conditions and time to recover.
Common Mistakes When Moving With Plants
A few simple mistakes can turn a manageable plant move into a difficult one.
Packing plants too tightly: Crowded boxes can crush leaves and stems.
Leaving plants in a parked vehicle: Temperatures inside vehicles can change quickly.
Watering every plant heavily before the move: Different plants have different watering needs, and excess water can make containers heavier and create spills.
Making major changes right before moving: Repotting, drastic pruning, and changing lighting at the same time can add unnecessary stress.
Forgetting about state requirements: Interstate plant restrictions can vary, so check the rules for your destination.
Putting plants under heavy belongings: Plants need their own protected space during transportation.
Ignoring pests: Moving an infested plant can introduce pests to other plants at the new home.
When Professional Movers Can Help
You don’t necessarily need professional help just because you own a few houseplants. But larger plant collections, heavy containers, tall plants, or a move involving stairs and difficult access can make transportation more complicated.
Little Red Wagon Moving currently lists houseplants among the belongings its moving team can transport. We also offer residential, long-distance, and last-minute moving services, which can be useful when plants are only one part of a larger move.
Before moving day, let your moving team know about unusually large, fragile, or difficult-to-access plants so they can account for them while planning the move.
Plan a Safer Move for Your Plants
Your plants don’t need a complicated moving system. They need thoughtful preparation, protection from temperature extremes, secure transportation, and time to adjust once they arrive.
If you’re planning a move in Colorado Springs or elsewhere in Colorado, Little Red Wagon Moving can help with the larger moving process while you focus on the details that matter to you. We offer local and long-distance residential moving services, and list houseplants among the belongings it can move.
Contact the Happy Movers at Little Red Wagon Moving and talk with our team about your upcoming move!
Frequently Asked Questions About Moving With Plants
Can I move houseplants in a moving truck?
Yes, houseplants can be moved as part of a household move, but they need appropriate protection from temperature extremes, tipping, crushing, and rough handling. Discuss larger or unusually fragile plants with your moving team before moving day.
Should I water my plants before moving?
It depends on the plant. Rather than following one watering schedule for every houseplant, follow each plant’s normal care requirements and avoid unnecessarily soaking the soil immediately before transportation.
How do I pack plants in a box?
Place smaller plants in sturdy boxes and use cushioning around the pots so they remain upright. Leave enough room for foliage and provide adequate ventilation rather than sealing the box completely.
Can I move plants across state lines?
Possibly, but requirements vary by state and plant. Check current regulations for your destination before an interstate move because plant-health restrictions can apply in certain circumstances.
How do I move plants in the winter?
Keep plants exposed to freezing temperatures for as little time as possible. Have the vehicle ready before carrying plants outside, and don’t leave them sitting in a cold vehicle while you wait.
How do I move plants in hot weather?
Avoid leaving plants in a parked vehicle, especially during hot weather. Keep them protected from excessive heat and direct sunlight and move them into a temperature-controlled environment as soon as possible.
Should I repot my plants before moving?
Not necessarily. If a plant needs repotting, giving it time to settle into the new container before moving can be preferable to repotting immediately before transportation. Otherwise, keeping the plant in its established container may be less disruptive.
What should I do with my plants after moving?
Return them to an appropriate environment and give them time to adjust. Keep transported plants separate from your existing collection for a couple of weeks while monitoring for pests or disease, as recommended by USDA APHIS.
Can professional movers move houseplants?
Little Red Wagon Moving currently lists houseplants among the items its movers can transport. If you have large, fragile, or unusually difficult plants, discuss them with our team when planning your move.
