Packing Live Plants
By Andrew Spatz, Packing Specialist, Truck rental.com Staff
Plants are a beautiful addition to any home, and if you are moving them, you can assume that they will provide as much enjoyment in your new home as they did in the old one. Your plants are important to you, so when you move you want to make sure that these things are taken care of. In order to move plants, you should always take the time to pack them properly. This will ensure that your plants have a good chance of getting to their new home unscathed.
Preparations for Packing
You should start the packing process for plants a few days before your move. This will allow you to get them ready as well as packed appropriately. The first step is to kill any pests that may be lurking in or around your plants. In order to do this, you should wrap your plants in a black plastic bag with a common flea collar. Secure the bags for 24 hours before you do anything else.
Packing up Plants
Once you have made sure that any pests have been eliminated, you can begin packing your plants. You need to secure a sturdy box with professional packing tape. This will ensure that the box will hold the plants and will not fall apart under the weight.
Secure the plants in the box with packing materials. Make sure that you only secure the bases in this manner. Leave should also be secured, but you should use damp paper towels to do this. Using damp paper towels to secure the leaves and stems of a plant will keep it moist and contained so that it does not move around during the move. Be sure to place a top layer of damp towels on the top of the plants in order to complete the packing process.
Moving Plants
It is always best to move your plants in your own car. Movers can and will not be responsible for the handling of the plant box. For this reason, make sure that you mark this box as 'DO NOT LOAD'. This will prevent the moving company from loading this box in the truck. Plants should be placed on the top of boxes stacked in the back of a truck rental if you have no other area in which to transport them.
Temperatures
Keep in mind that plants are sensitive, so if you are moving them by car you should always strive to keep them away from harsh extremes. This means that you should try to park your car in the shade during the summer, and in the sun during the winter. Regulating the temperature as much as you can will help your plants survive the stress of the move.
When you get There
Unpacking plants is just as important as packing them. Take extra care when you unpack live plants because they are already under stress. Additional stress can cause lost leaves and death. Make sure to remove plants from the bottom of the box. This will help you prevent broken stems. Do not put the plants in sunlight right away. Remember that they have been in the dark for a few hours and they will need to readjust to sunlight again.
