apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

If you can, try pruning back really bushy plants. And if you're going to bring cuttings or root slips, you can put them between soaking wet paper towels (obviously a sturdy brand) and then pop them into plastic zip-lock bags. It depends on the plant, but these will usually be good for a few days at least.

If you have to move anything that is good sized that can't be transported in your car, lay it down in the bed of the pickup truck after wrapping it up in an old shower curtain or sheet.

I learned this the hard way several years ago when we moved and my husband stuffed my indoor dragon tree into the bed of his truck with the furniture. He roared off and by the time he arrived at our new house, the poor plant had literally been whipped into shreds by the wind. It took more than a year for it to recover and sprout new leaves but it's grown pretty big and seems to be happy now.

If you don't own or can't borrow a pickup and the movers agree to transport your plants, set them upright in a cardboard box that contains them, stuff newspapers around them then poke several small holes the box for air.

I also water my plants really well before I transport them because it seems to help them recover more quickly from the shock of being moved.

After we arrive at our destination I put them in a semi dark room for about a week to allow them to recover.

I've taken these steps through 4 moves and I've never lost a single indoor or outdoor plant yet. What can I say, I love growing green things and I've even confiscated dying ones from coworkers or other people who don't understand how to care for plants and so they threaten to throw them away or actually do. I've obtained some wonderful additions for my indoor garden this way.

Two years ago when our office moved, one of my coworkers impulsively grabbed the small Pothos (that's the one that drapes so beautifully with shiny green leaves) from the receptionists desk and put it in her car. We'd all pitched in to move the office which coincided with a blinding ice storm that sent temperatures plummeting. Long story short, the coworker left poor Pothos on the floor of her car overnight and of course it was dead beyond recovery while not a single one of the others died from being carried gently in boxes and set down at their destination by moi. Sad but true story.

the way the professionals do it (trust me, I know):

- crumple up newspaper/butcher paper around the base of the plant, especially plants with canes/stalks. if they wobble around a lot, their roots will be damaged. tape these crumpled bunches down to the pot for extra security.
- wrap large sheets of butcher paper (or newspaper for smaller plants) around the pot forming a cone. I would definitely *not* recommend wrapping them in plastic. air holes will help, but this is still not ideal. either leave the top of the cone open or loosely fold it over.
- plants can be laid down in the back of a truck, but secure them so they're not rolling around. also, put something (like a rolled up towel) inder the bases of stalks to relieve some pressure where they lean.
- there is really no reason to put your plants in a dark room upon arrival, and I would actually recommend against it. they've been in the dark, they need light now! don't put them right in the brightest sun on a hot day, but place them somewhere with bright filtered light for a day or so, then move them to their permanent locations.
- if you know before you move that the plant's new home will have different lighting conditions, gradually 'train' it before you move by finding somewhere with similar light.
- avoid moving plants during freezing temperatures or the hottest day of the year. don't bother moving plants if they'll be in a truck overnight when it's freezing-- they won't make it. give them to friends and let them live.
- don't fret if they drop some leaves or look droopy for a few days. some plants are especially prone to dropping leaves at change (ficus, natal mahogany, etc.). it's unfortunate, but they will likely recover.

I agree with bewarethebaobabs, but would add a few things. Having worked at nurseries, I've seen healthy plants killed or maimed in transport. I've also seen the resiliency of some plants, no matter how people treat them.

First, the amount of care you lavish on the plant really depends on the resiliency of the plant itself. Pothos and philodendron, for example, really need very little protection (aside from keeping the stems from breaking, but if they do, they will grow back quickly). Succulents will need less care than annuals, etc.

If you are moving larger plants, especially if they are single trunks, make absolutely sure the stems are not rubbing on anything, like the edge of the pickup bed, as this could kill the plant. A pillow or rolled up fabric will work for this.

We usually wrapped larger plants in burlap and twine if they were riding outside of a cab, securing larger branches to the main trunk with twine (for trees, especially). Any fabric would probably work just as well, as long as the plants can breathe and moisture does not build up on the leaves.

When you get the plants to your new place, they should be put in similar light/temperature conditions to what they are used to, and you can gradually wean them into different conditions. If you are planting or repotting, prune a good portion of the leaves of your plants, so that the roots can take up enough water to sustain the plant. The leaves will grow back, trust me.

Good suggestions bewarethebaobabs.

I'd also add that you need to make sure you understand just what kind of light some spots in your new home are likely to get before you go slapping plants there. You just might discover that what you thought was a shady corner gets 2 hours of direct sun in the late morning when the blinds are open. That might be OK for some plants, but it'll be enough to fry others. Watch the light in your rooms throughout the day first to see where it's safe to put various plants before you locate them somewhere. Until then, I'd recommend keeping them somewhere well-lit, but where you're sure they can't receive direct sunlight.

And remember, a spot that's fine with the blinds closed may not be so hot with them open. Unless you live alone and always remember to close that blind, keep that in mind when locating plants that can't take a lot of sun.

i've done three army moves so far this year, and haven't lost a plant yet. i designate two to three boxes for my plants (all indoor/outdoor potted plants), and tape the top flaps up to form a tall box with an open top. i snugly fit what plants i can in each box, and stuff towels or newspaper between then to prevent the pots touching and rattling, and wrap newspaper around the trunks (like my giant jade and devil's backbone) to prevent wobbling. i'll also wrap up the pots of the largest plants with a plastic bag if they're too big to fit in a box, so the roots don't get damaged. you can always re-grow a damaged plant if the root structure is intact. long trailing plants get their limbs laid gently or piled loosely on top. secure, secure, secure those boxes so the plants recieve as little jostling as possible. the boxes go on the floor of my car in the backseat, with a draped towel over the top to prevent direct sunlight from car windows during the 10-13 hour drives, and they are the first things i unpack. if they absolutely have to go in the moving truck they're the last things in and the first things out, in a secure location where nothing can fall on them. i usually give them a day or two to rest before watering, and set them in a location near, but not directly next to, a filtered light source. usually by the time they've rested i've sorted out where they're going in their new home.