Travel with plants

[MTK]

Hello,
My gardening experience is very limited, I love plants and I try my best to keep them healthy. I am going to be moving soon going through winter weather, maybe just cold or maybe freezing, we will see. About 3 days on the road and I hope to be able to bring my favorite 4 or 5 plants, I do not really want to part with them, but also not to kill them if they will suffer during the trip.
Any advice from you the more experienced gardeners would be really appreciated. TIA

 

[dirty hands]

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Use a clear tote with a lid maybe.
You could take in at night if you stay at a motel.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

Are they outdoor plants you intend to lift from the garden, or indoor plants in pots? If you are using a moving company for the rest of your possessions some of them will handle plants. It's probably the best time of year while they are quiet, or dormant even.

 

[oneeye]

This reminds me when I was taking the state certification test years ago. The last question was, "what is the number one way people accidentally harm their plants"?
I forgot the first one.
Use too much or not enough fertilizer.
Over or under water.
Transport uncovered plants on the highway.
I missed that question but still passed the exam barely.

It best to never leave the plants in the open in the back of a truck during transport because it well dry out the foliage. Always cover the plants well when exposed to the highway wind. Good luck to you and I hope you have a good move.

 

[MTK]

Thank you to everyone that replied. They are indoor plants, and they will be inside of the vehicle not outside, I will take them inside the motel room when we stop, they can be inside a tote for better transport but they are too tall to close the lid, so perhaps cover them with a cloth? My husband said to forget the plants and get new ones, but I can not do that, I need to at least try.

 

[Oliver Buckle]

My husband said to forget the plants and get new ones,

Is that a genuine response, or is he just overworked, worrying about the move, or something like that? It seems strange.

What I have done when plants are not easy to move for some reason is to propagate from them, for example I brought a dozen or so strawberry runners and left the main bed, within three years I was back to the old position with plants of different ages in decent size beds. I suppose people might get attached to a particular plant they had nurtured for years, but to me vegetative reproduction is still that same plant, it is only when they reproduce through seed the DNA can change. Mind, it wouldn't stop me getting something new as well if I saw something I liked.

 

[dirty hands]

I have and have had plants that are special to me. From funerals and customers giving me plants before they passed away and plants i bought that were almost dead that I saved. So I understand trying to keep them in a move. Some of mine have moved with me several times.

You could wrap them lightly in plastic wrap too to keep them from getting damaged before pitting them in the tote. Just make sure to water them first if they need to be kept moist.

Not everyone has an emotional attachment to plants. Not a big deal.
I hope the move goes well.