Moving plants is one of the trickiest tasks on move day. You've taken great care of your plants and they'll be a welcome and familiar sight in your new home—if you can move them without killing them. Besides water, plants need light and air to survive, and like pets, they shouldn't be exposed to extreme temperatures. Try to move your plants yourself with the following moving tips so they arrive safely and have the best chance of flourishing in their new environment.

Be aware that professional movers will not move plants, which are considered perishable items, beyond 150 miles or if the move is not complete within 24 hours. These are guidelines under the Household Goods Carriers' Bureau Tariff, which regulates the moving industry. You don't want to stuff your plants into a cramped, airless moving van anyway.

Prep Your Plants

Follow some easy plant-preparation moving tips so that your houseplants reach their new home in good shape.

• Consider repotting your plants into unbreakable plastic containers if they are in clay pots. This should be done three to four weeks before your move so they can adapt to their new pot.
• Check your plants for insects. If you treat them with an insecticide, follow the directions carefully.
• Two or three days before, water your plants as you normally do.
• Prune larger plants for easier transport, but don't overly prune so that you put the plant in shock. Remember, like you, your plants will be adjusting to a new environment.

Pack Up Your Plants

Packing your plants should be one of the last things you do on moving day or the night before. Load them close to the time you leave.

• If you're just moving a short distance, your plants should be fine in open boxes. Put newspaper around the smaller pots to prevent shifting.
• Taller plants can be packed on their sides if you pack sphagnum moss on the top of the pot, cover it with plastic and tape it so the potting mix doesn't spill.
• Wrap the branches of large plants with an old sheet or tissue paper to prevent breakage.
• If you put plants in a closed box, punch some air holes in the top.
• For a longer move when your plants might need water, put them in drip pans and use towels to prevent getting your other things wet.
• Stabilize plants with boxes around them. You might even rope off an area of your moving truck rental just for your plants.

Strategic Snipping

You can't move outdoor plants from the yard you're leaving because they are considered part of the property you sold. But you can take cuttings to start new plants in your new location.

• Wrap cuttings in wet moss and newspaper inside plastic bags. Make sure to leave the bags open.

NOTE: Some states have restrictions on bringing plants across their borders (California, Arizona and Florida are the most strict). Check with your new state's Department of Natural Resources for further information about its plant importation rules.