Water them a day or two before the move so the compost is moist but not soggy, pack them upright in open boxes, and take them with you in the car rather than in the back of a van. Cold, draughts, strong sun and drying out can all damage houseplants, so the whole plan is about keeping them away from those for a day.
In the days before
Give each plant a thorough watering a day or two ahead, so it travels moist rather than waterlogged and doesn’t drip on the way. Cacti and succulents cope with longer without water, so they can be left as they are. It’s also a good moment to trim off dead leaves and check for pests, so you don’t carry a problem into the new house.
Packing them
Stand pots snugly in sturdy, open-topped boxes and fill the gaps with scrunched paper so nothing can tip. Loosely wrap tall or trailing plants in paper to protect the stems, and leave the tops open so they can breathe. Label the boxes “plants, this way up” and load them last, so they come out first.
On moving day
The car is the best place for them, because you can keep them out of cold draughts and strong sun. Many houseplants dislike draughts, particularly in winter, and a sudden drop in temperature can turn leaves yellow, so on a cold day keep them in the warm and don’t leave them waiting outside or in a parked car. In summer, keep them out of direct sun through the windows.
Settling in
Unpack them first and give them a spot with similar light to the one they had before, away from radiators and draughty doors. If a few leaves yellow, check for a draught or the watering before anything else.
If there’s a gap between homes
Your furniture and boxes can wait in a storage unit, but plants can’t come in with them. A closed unit has no light or water, and a plant left inside soon dies and decays, which brings damp and smells that would reach your own boxes and your neighbours’. Ask a friend, neighbour or relative to look after them for a few weeks instead. Empty pots and planters are welcome in the unit once they’re clean and dry.
If you need somewhere for everything else while you’re between homes, call us on 0800 2545585 or get a price online.
Related questions
- Can I store plants or anything living?
- What goods are prohibited from being stored at Wigwam?
- How should I label boxes for storage?
Further reading