Plants need specialized care while shipping just as in the case of
pet moving. In fact, the laws of many
countries do not allow plants to be moved if the distance between the
originating and destination location is more than prescribed limitations.
For example, the Household Goods Carriers' Bureau Tariff does not allow a
carrier to accept a shipment containing perishable items, including plants,
except when a shipment is moving less than 150 miles and/or delivery will be
made within 24 hours. Many interstate moves and
international relocations also
restrict some species of plants to be moved. However, many household plants
can still be taken along with the people who relocate themselves.
Moving Companies and Plant Shipping
Most of the moving companies do not ship plants. If, however, they are
carried by the moving companies, plants are not covered by the
insurance provisions. As most states require
transported plants to be grown indoors in sterilized potting soil, the
moving companies want their clients to adhere to these rules. They also want
the customers to prepare their plants for moving by transferring them into
unbreakable pots and treating them with pesticides etc. The packing of the
plants have also to be done preferably by the customers according to the
nature of the plants. However, they generally provide
packing supplies like boxes etc. with
or without charges.
Packing of Plants
Plants have to be prepared weeks before moving. They have to be pruned,
administered with pest control treatments and transported to unbreakable
pots. On the moving day, plants are drained to ensure that they are not
water logged. It is always good to pack plants in sturdy boxes lined with
plastic. Holes should be punched in the boxes to allow plants to breathe.
Plants have t be packed snugly, but not very tightly, into the boxes and
some packing is placed to hold them firmly. Movers have to be told about the
boxes containing plants so that they may take extra care of the plants. The
'root balls' of garden plants have to be wrapped in plastic and it has to be
ensured that the earth in them is not too dry. Larger climbing type plants
have to be tied with supports to the stem to avoid snapping in the moving
process.
