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Taking Your Favorite Plants with You
If you decorate your home with house plants, you
have probably grown quite attached to them. Plants can become an
important part of your decor, and a healthy, beautiful plant is not
easy to part with. The good news is you might be able to take
your plants along for the move if certain conditions apply. Here
is a brief guide to moving with house plants.
Federal and State Regulations
Before you plan to pack your plants for the move, check with the state
where you will live to make sure the plant(s) can be moved there.
There are seven states that require inspection for all house plants
before they can be moved. The purpose of inspection is to deem
the plants "pest-free." For indoor plants, commercial plant mix
should be used instead of ground soil. If your plants have
outdoor soil, they will have to be transferred to pots with commercial
soil. If moving to Hawaii or Arizona, the plants must not have
sand, soil or any insects or diseases.
Some states require that your plants be inspected at the border.
Keep your plants easily accessible in case this happens. Do your
research before you plan to take your plants to be safe.
*States that Require Certification of all House Plants: Alabama,
Delaware, Florida, Maine, Tennessee, Utah, Washington
*States that have Inspection upon Arrival: Arizona, California,
Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Texas, Virginia
Federal regulations involve the transport of certain types of
insects. The government has issued what's called plant
quarantines, which restrict the transporting of plants that might
possibly harbor certain insects such as the imported fire ant, citrus
canker, gypsy moth, Japanese beetle, golden nematode and the Caribbean
fruit fly. Others include the spider mide, whitefly, mealy bug,
grub worm and others. Check federal regulations to find out if
your plant fits in one of these categories.
Arrange your inspection in advance with an authorized state Department
of Agriculture inspector. Be sure to keep your certificate with
the plants while moving.
Keeping your Plants Healthy on
the Move
Unfortunately, plants do not automatically adjust to new
environments. Some are very sensitive so you should take extra
care in the weeks before the move, during and after the move. Try
to keep the plants as healthy as possible before the move. Make
sure they get adequate water and sunlight to build up strength. A
strong plant is more likely to survive a move.
It's best to take the plants with you instead of placing them on a
moving van because you are able to control their environment. The
temperature should be kept at a reasonable level during the trip.
If possible, try to have the temperature stabilized at your new home
before you arrive. If it's extremely hot or cold, this could put
your plants into shock.
Don't over water the plant. Never assume the plant needs more
water than usual just because it's being transported. Unlike
pets, plants don't need double the water or food left in their soil
while you're away from them!
If your plants travel in darkness for the entire trip, expose them to
light gradually upon arrival. Keep them in a well-shaded area at
first before bringing them into pure sunlight. To do this, cover
them with plastic bags until you can get them to a shaded area.
Place the plants in a location of your new home that's similar in
atmosphere and light exposure to your old home. If you feel
uncomfortable about taking the entire plant, take some cuttings from
the plant for propagation after the move.
If you are unable to take your plants with you, give them away to a
friend or relative, or donate them to a nearby nursing home or hospital.
Using these tips, you can keep your favorite plants and easily add them
to your new home's decor when you arrive!
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