How to Move House Plants

Why plants need special treatment

Most house plants cope poorly with sudden changes in temperature, light and movement, and a sealed removal van is a particularly harsh environment. With a little planning, however, most plants travel perfectly well and recover quickly once settled.

Prepare plants a week ahead

Give plants a basic health check before the move so you are not transporting pests into your new home or trying to deal with a struggling plant on top of everything else.

• Prune any dead or damaged growth
• Check leaves and soil for signs of pests
• Repot anything in a fragile ceramic or heavy pot into plastic for the journey
• Group plants by size so you know how many boxes or trips you need

Get the watering right

Timing of watering matters more than people expect. Water two days before the move rather than on the day itself, since saturated soil is heavier to carry, can leak through cardboard and encourages root rot if the plant sits in transit for several hours.

• Water roughly 48 hours before moving day
• Avoid watering on the morning of the move
• Let excess water drain fully before packing
• Check moisture again once the plant is settled in its new spot

Packing and transporting indoor plants

Where possible, plants should travel in your own car rather than in the removal van, since they need light, airflow and a stable temperature that a sealed lorry cannot provide over a long journey.

• Stand pots upright in open boxes with crumpled paper packed around the base
• Avoid sealing boxes, since plants need airflow
• Position taller plants where they will not be crushed by other items
• Never leave plants in a hot or freezing car, even briefly
• Unpack and water as soon as you arrive

Moving garden plants and shrubs

Garden plants need a different approach, and timing is more critical since roots dry out once lifted from the ground.

• Lift shrubs with as much of the root ball intact as possible
• Wrap the root ball in damp hessian or a plastic sheet
• Keep roots moist until replanting
• Replant within 48 hours wherever possible

Check what you are entitled to take

It is worth checking your sale contract before digging up anything from the garden. Established shrubs, trees and sometimes even pots are often considered part of the property and may belong to the buyer unless specifically excluded.

Settling plants into a new home

Once you arrive, plants benefit from being unpacked and positioned as soon as possible rather than left boxed up for days. Choose a spot with similar light conditions to where they were before, and expect a short adjustment period even with the best care.