Moving with Live Plants

Moving with live plants

If you're moving with plants, you'll need to either take them in your personal vehicle or have an alternative for transporting them. Check also for moving companies that support moving plants which would ease the process of moving a bit.

And, there are several reasons why:

• The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) requires permits to import some plants into the U.S. and across state borders.
• Some states have laws against transporting plants across state lines (Florida and California are prime examples)— check with your state's agriculture department as well as the agriculture departments of any states you'll be traveling through.
• Most plants require air, water and sunlight— none of which is available inside an enclosed trailer.
• Many plants carry pests, on the plant and in the soil. The last thing you want is a shipment of household goods infected with pests. The last thing we want is a trailer or ReloCube infested with pests.

So, if you don't want to deal with moving your live plants across the country, you could brighten someone's day by giving them away…consider checking with nursing homes or elder care facilities in your area. I get that some people love their plants like children, and leaving them behind isn't an option. If that's the case for you, here are some tips for moving live plants in your own vehicle:

• Before your move, put your plants in a plastic bag and place a flea collar inside. Then, place it in a cool location overnight— this should kill any pests on the plant or in the soil (Border inspection of plants is usually required in states that have an economy largely based on agriculture. After inspection, if your plants seem to be healthy with no visible disease or surface pests, they will most likely be allowed into the state).
• Line a box with plastic and place the plants inside to keep them from damaging your vehicle's interior if accidentally tipped over.
• Water your plants before loading them into the car— most can survive from 7-10 days without water, so it's not necessary to over water. Just make sure the soil is damp.
• If your trip takes multiple days, check the temperature before leaving the plants in the car overnight. Temperatures below 35 or above 95 (Fahrenheit) for more than an hour can kill many plants. Many hotels will allow plants in the room, just ask.
• If your plants are too large to transport (congrats for having an exceptionally green thumb), you might consider just taking a cutting. Just be sure to research whether the specific type of plant you have will grow from a cutting.

If you're moving to an area with a different climate than you're accustomed to, make sure to enlist the help of a nursery in your new city. These local experts can help with tips for growing plants in the new climate they'll be living in. Happy gardening!

If you need to move out and have questions about how you make apartment moving easy and affordable, don’t hesitate to ask US Border Movers, they have professional moving services across the country and to Mexico!