You can take your plants with you when you move without
harming them. Here are some tips.
- Call your local U.S. Department of Agriculture to check
on regulations if moving from one state to another. Many
states have restrictions on certain kinds of plants to
prevent importing bugs or pests that can destroy valuable
cash crops in that state.
- A couple of weeks before you move, prune plants to facilitate
packing. Consult a florist or a plant book for instructions.
- A week before your move, put your plants in a black plastic
bag with a bug/pest strip, conventional flea collar or
bug powder in the bag before you put the plant in. Close
the bag and place in a cool area overnight. This will kill
any pests on the plant or in the soil.
- The day before your move, place the plants in cardboard
containers. Make sure they are held in place by dampened
newspaper or packing paper. Use paper to cushion the leaves
and place a final layer of wet paper on top to keep them
moist. Water the plants normally in summer, a little less
in winter.
- On the day of your move, set the boxes aside and mark "DO
NOT LOAD" so they won't be taken on the moving van.
- On the day you leave, close boxes, punch air holes in
the top and load in your car.
- When on the road, be careful where you park your car.
Look for a shaded area in the summer and a sunny spot in
the winter.
- Unpack the plants as soon as you can after arriving.
Remove plants through the bottom of the box in order to
avoid breaking the stems. Do not expose the plants to too
much sunlight at first. Let them get accustomed to more
light gradually.
- If you must leave your plants behind, then take cuttings,
Put them in a plastic bag with wet paper towels around
them.
|
Moving
Tip #29
Moving Expense Tax Deductions - Ask the Internal Revenue Service for information about tax deductions on moving expenses and what receipts you'll need to keep.
