What Are You Even Supposed to Do With Houseplants During a Move?

One of the most stressful experiences is moving living spaces, but if you’re a houseplant enthusiast, you’re probably aware that your leafy pals might get overwhelmed during the process, too. It also begs the question, what do you do with houseplants when you move?

To ease your mind and make it as painless as possible for you and your favorite plants, we asked a few plant experts for some help in determining how to move plants, where to store them during a move, and how to care for them after.

Pack Plant Pots Snugly

While you might be (understandably) sweating at the thought of your indoor jungle getting tossed around, plant expert and head grower Matthew Aulton notes that oftentimes the pot is more susceptible to damage than the plant itself.

“You can wrap bubble wrap around each plant and pot to create a sleeve,” he says. “It will allow the plants to be protected from one another when packaged and keep the pots safe.”

Once this is done, place the plants in a sturdy box close to one another to reduce the amount of jiggling and movement they’ll experience. This helps the soil stay put, too.

“However, when placed very close together, it leaves the foliage a bit more vulnerable to damage, so it is important to create a barrier between the plants,” he says.

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Move Houseplants By Car

Whether you’re moving close by or moving far away and driving your own vehicle, it’s best to take your plants with you. Plant expert Trela Phelps notes that plants won’t do well for more than two or three days in a car, but it’s better than a moving truck.

“Most moving trucks are not temperature-controlled, and it can be too hot or too cold depending on the time of year,” she says, adding that by car is best in this case.

“If you need to stop driving during your move, make sure to park in the shade and vent the windows,” she says. “If the move is in the winter, do not leave your plants for long periods of time in the car or overnight, where they will be subject to freezing temperatures.”

To keep them safe during the journey, she says a stake that goes from soil to beyond the foliage and craft paper wrapping or a blanket can offer an added layer of protection.

Leave Plants in a Nicely Lit Area

If space is at a premium and you don’t have room to move houseplants right away, it’s possible to leave them on their own for a little bit without too much worry. Aulton says to first determine the level of sunlight your plant needs, then find a location that fits the bill.

“Water the plants thoroughly, and they should be set for at least a week if not longer,” he says.

If you need to leave the property but can’t take your plants immediately, plant expert and flower delivery store owner Stephen Kohley says there are a few places to consider.

“A friend’s house, a shaded porch, or a climate-controlled garage can all be good options, depending on the weather,” he says. “Just be sure to steer clear of places with extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, or strong winds.”

Keep Plants Upright and Well Ventilated

Although you’ll want to pack your houseplants snugly, Kohley adds that plants will need room to breathe and a way to stay in an upright position, too.

“You can do this by using strong boxes that have ventilation, or keeping the tops of the boxes open,” he explains. “To stop the pots from shifting, pack them tightly with crumpled paper or towels.”

Adding labels to each box is important as well, especially if friends, family members, or professional movers will be handling boxes and are be unaware of what’s in them.

“Once you arrive at your new place, get those plants out of their boxes as soon as you can,” he says. “Set them up in a place where the light is similar to what they had before.”

Donate or Gift Plants You No Longer Want

There might be a few plants you don’t have room for or don’t want to take with you. While it might feel sad to let them go, Aulton, Phelps, and Kohley offered several ideas for parting with houseplants that feel more fulfilling.

“We love gifting plants,” says Aulton. “We would reach out to friends and family. You’d be surprised how many people would love a new plant.”

You can also widen your scope for other loving homes for your plants. Kohley recommends donating them to a variety of places.

“Local plant swaps, community gardens, nursing homes, schools, or even your friends and neighbors might love to take them in,” he says. “Consider also animal shelters, libraries, and small businesses. Just make sure your plants are healthy and pest-free when you donate them.”

Phelps adds that social media platforms, such as Facebook Marketplace, are other useful places to find plant-loving folks who would happily take yours off you.

How to Care for Plants After a Big Change

These three experts also shared several useful after-care tips for supporting your houseplants after a move and ensuring they stay healthy:

• Give your plants time to settle in. Phelps says three weeks is usually a good acclimation timeline.
• Place them in lighting conditions that were the same or very similar to what they had in your last living space.
• Do not repot, feed, or fertilize your houseplants right away. Kohley says they need time to adjust first.
• Water them when needed, but try not to overdo it within the first couple of weeks. Phelps says watering them when you arrive can be a useful gauge for starting a new watering routine.
• Don’t worry if you see dropping or yellowing leaves; a little bit of this behavior is normal. Aulton says to trim and prune if needed, but give them time to welcome in their new environment.