How to Keep Your Plants Safe and Healthy When Moving Home
📅 Published Dec 7, 2025
by Qaswa Team
Moving home is exciting, but for plant lovers, it can also be stressful. Your leafy companions are living, breathing parts of your household, and they need special care to survive the journey. The Qaswa removals team knows with the right preparation, you can make sure your plants arrive at your new home healthy and ready to flourish.
Plan Ahead for Plant Transport
- Assess your collection: Take stock of which plants you want to move. Large, fragile, or sentimental plants may need extra care, while smaller ones can be grouped together.
- Check restrictions: Some removal companies won’t transport plants due to risk of damage or mess. Confirm early whether you’ll need to move them yourself.
- Prepare space: Decide how much room you’ll have in your car or van. Plants should be secured to avoid tipping or soil spillage.
Repotting for Easier Handling
- Switch to lightweight pots: Ceramic containers are heavy and prone to breaking. Repot into plastic pots a few weeks before moving to reduce risk.
- Prune and tidy: Trim dead leaves and branches to make plants more compact and less likely to snag during transit.
- Water wisely: Avoid watering right before the move. Damp soil can leak and create mess. Instead, water a day or two in advance.
Protecting Plants During Transit
- Use crates or boxes: Place smaller pots in sturdy crates lined with waterproof material. Fill gaps with packing paper to prevent movement.
- Cover soil: Use plastic wrap or newspaper over the soil surface to stop spills.
- Maintain airflow: Don’t seal plants completely. They need ventilation to stay healthy during the journey.
Moving Garden Plants
- Dig and repot early: If you’re taking plants from your garden, pot them up at least two weeks before moving. This gives roots time to settle.
- Take cuttings: For plants too large or impractical to move, cuttings are a great way to preserve them. Keep them moist in plastic bags until you can replant.
Settling Plants Into Their New Home
- Unpack quickly: Plants are sensitive to changes in light and temperature. Get them out of boxes and into their new spots as soon as possible.
- Monitor health: Expect some stress signs like drooping leaves. With proper care, most plants bounce back within a week.
- Reintroduce decorative pots: Once settled, transfer plants back into their original containers to restore your home’s aesthetic.
Moving plants requires patience and planning, but it’s worth the effort. With careful preparation, your greenery will not only survive the move but thrive in its new environment, bringing life and freshness to your new home.