Caring for Your Houseplants When Moving House

Moving house is an exciting time but it is, without a doubt, very stressful and there are lots of different things to consider, such as packing and redirecting mail. One thing that is often overlooked during the process is how to successfully relocate your house plants, which can be detrimental to their overall health. Here are a few simple steps from Hozelock's UK and International Marketing Manager, Richard Ferguson, to help ensure a smooth move for your plants and encourage them to thrive in a new environment.

Plan Ahead

Like many elements of the moving process, the first thing you need to do is come up with a plan. It is important to consider the distance to your new home, the expected weather conditions during transit and how long it will take to move. These factors will determine how you store the plants and if you will need to water them during the move. You should also factor in the season as the weather can have a big impact, with cold draughts or scorching temperatures detrimental to overall health. The more you plan, the smoother the transition will be.

Storage options

Invest in good quality, sturdy containers for each plant. Ideally, it is best to use plastic pots as they are lightweight and offer a good drainage system to prevent waterlogging. Avoid heavy ceramic or clay pots as these add unnecessary weight and are also at risk of breaking in transit.

You should also try and load your plants onto the vehicle last, as this minimises the risk of potential damage and means that you can get them out first when you get to your new home. The plants should be placed in boxes or trays to prevent them from tipping over in transit, with any gaps filled with packing materials to keep them steady and secure. If you have larger plants, it is important to wrap the foliage in soft and breathable materials, as this will add further protection.

Prune and trim

It’s worth pruning plants and trimming back any overgrown foliage shortly before moving, as this will help make moving them more manageable and will also encourage healthy growth in your new environment. The last thing you need is for your plants to take up unneeded space when there are lots of things to move!

Wiser watering

Watering is crucial to keeping your plants happy and healthy. Watering your plants a day or two before the move is ideal, as it allows the soil to absorb enough moisture without becoming waterlogged. Avoid watering them right before the move to prevent any spills and excessive water weight in the containers.

Prioritise unpacking and gradually adapt

There’s undoubtedly a lot to unpack when you finally pick up the keys to your new home, but, where possible, try and unpack your plants as soon as possible. Look for appropriate places to home your new plants based on their sunlight requirements and water them quickly to help them minimise the impact of the journey.

Like humans, plants need time to adjust to their new surrounds, so it may be worthwhile to introduce them to different light levels and temperatures in the first few days to help with the transition. You should so avoid re-potting them immediately and let them acclimatise to the new surroundings first.