Everybody enjoys a fresh start especially when it comes to change of house. However, it comes with its fair share of challenges—especially when it’s time to pack plants. Unlike furniture or other belongings, plants are living organisms that require special care during a move.
Whether it’s your favorite fiddle leaf fig or a lush outdoor fern, keeping your green friends safe and healthy means knowing how to prepare them properly for the journey. In this guide, we’ll walk you through practical steps to ensure your plants arrive at your new home thriving and ready to brighten up your space.
LS House Movers Singapore provides detailed insight on how to pack plants when moving to Singapore. Moreover, they provide house moving, room moving, furniture moving, office moving, and mattress moving services in Singapore.
When to Pack Plants for Moving
Packing plants isn’t always necessary. Here are scenarios where it becomes essential:
- Relocating Long Distances: If you’re moving across Singapore and the travel time is significant, proper packing can protect plants from damage.
- Changing Living Conditions: Due to the change of light or temperature in your new home, plants may need extra care.
- Avoiding Damage in Transit: Regardless of whether you are hiring a moving company or driving, packing is important. It ensures your plants don’t tip over or break during bumpy rides.
- Protecting Delicate Plants: Fragile plants, such as succulents or orchids, need additional padding to avoid possible damage.
Step-by-Step Guide to Packing Plants
1. Assess Your Plant Collection
Relocation is not always feasible, let alone possible, with plants. Large potted plants, for instance, are heavy in size and can be hard to manage, compared to small plants. Determine which plants to move and which to give to friends or family or leave behind.
- Move plants with sentimental value or those that are rare.
- Skip moving very delicate or easily replaceable plants.
Tip: Instead of throwing away these plants, it is better to pass them on to friends or relatives. It’s a thoughtful way to lighten your load.
2. Prepare the Plants in Advance
A little prep goes a long way:
- Prune Dead Leaves and Branches: Trim dead leaves and branches to make plants easier to handle.
- Repot if needed: Transfer plants from heavy or fragile pots to lightweight plastic pots so that they do not break easily.
- Water the Plants: Water them a day or two before moving, ensuring the soil is moist but not soggy. Wet soil can make pots heavier and messier.
- Inspect for Pests: Check for insects or diseases to prevent transferring them to your new home.
3. Choose the Right Containers
The choice of container matters to keep plants safe during transportation.
- Small and Medium Plants: Use sturdy cardboard boxes. Line them with plastic to prevent moisture damage.
- Large Plants: Keep them in their pots but cover the pots with bubble wrap to ensure that they do not crack.
- Seedlings or Cuttings: Transport in lightweight containers that are tightly sealed in a bid to avoid loss of moisture.
4. Pack with Care
This is where packing skills come into play.
- Secure the Soil: Use a plastic wrap to cover the top of the soil to prevent spills.
- Use Padding: Stack crumpled paper, a piece of cloth, or packing peanuts around them to ensure that the pots do not tip over.
- Label the Boxes: Clearly mark your boxes with “Plants” and “This Side Up” so everyone knows to handle them gently.
5. Transporting the Plants
Ideally, take the plants with you wherever you go. Singapore’s temperature can be too much for the plants if they are left in a moving truck for hours.
- Transport plants using air-conditioned vehicles to keep them cool.
- Ensure plants aren’t exposed to direct sunlight for extended periods during the move.
6. Settle Them In at the New Place
When you get there, unpack the plants as soon as you can.
- Place them in similar lighting conditions to what they’re used to.
- If the plants seem under stress, water them sparingly.
- Avoid fertilizing immediately—give them time to recover from the move.
Tips for Moving Plants in Singapore’s Climate
The weather in Singapore is hot and humid which makes transport of plants somewhat challenging. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Transport the plants early in the morning or late in the evening to avoid the worst heat.
- Keep plastic bags or towels in case you want to protect your plants from sudden rain.
Why Bother?
Let’s face it—plants make a house a home. They warm up your room, clean the air you breathe, and bring a tiny bit of zen to the turmoil that is moving. Of course, it involves a lot of work, but isn’t it nice to see your plants growing happily in the new living room? Worth it.
Final Thoughts
Plants make your new house feel like home. Seeing them thrive in their new space is rewarding and worth the extra care during your move. That is why, spend a little time packing your plants right. Your green friends will respond with new leaves and cheerful energies in your new house.
