Dear readers, starting today, Master Gardener and author Julie Bawden Davis will be contributing to Homebody blog. Click here to read more about Julie.
House Plants as Old Friends
OK, I admit it. Occasionally, I talk to my house plants. Whether or not they hear me and are the better for it is debatable, but one thing I know for sure: Talking to them makes me feel good.
If we have a house plant for a significant period of time, we can’t help but consider it an integral part of our home. Plants bought at certain times of our lives serve as a constant reminder of happy or even difficult times.
The corn plant in my living room always brings a smile to my face. I bought it at just two feet tall in 1987 when I moved into my home. Today it’s over ten feet tall, reaching for the ceiling in my living room and reminding me of many happy years.
People often approach me for help with their old house plant friends. Often such plants are ailing, and they want to coax them back to health, while sometimes they want to know how to move the plants without any damage. Whatever their reasons for contacting me, they always tell me how dear the plants are and why.
What about you? Do you have house plants that hold significant memories?
Tips for Safely Transporting House Plants:
Whether you’re moving existing plants or bringing new ones home, keep in mind that they may react badly to relocating. House plants tend to be fragile and temperamental when it comes to changing spaces. When moving is a must, keep the following tips in mind.
Water Upon Arrival
So that your plants aren’t overly heavy and saturated on moving day, schedule watering for arrival. During periods of high heat, water enough to moisten plants. For the last two or three waterings before moving day, help prevent shock by using a B-1 solution.
Secure Soil
Crumple newspaper and tape it to the top of the pot so that you don’t lose soil. Or, if you’ll be moving the plants in hot weather, wet sphagnum moss and secure to the soil surface.
Tie Large Plants
Use green garden tape to tie big plants as much as possible to keep limbs from flopping and breaking. Place them on their side when transporting, and always lift plants by their containers–never by the plant itself.
Protect During Transport
Remember that your plants are used to mild indoor temperatures and aren’t accustomed to or even designed to be out in the elements. House plants should always be transported in an enclosed vehicle and kept away from direct sun, heat, and extreme cold. Throwing plants in the back of an open pickup truck is equivalent to putting them into the middle of a hurricane. Even in mild weather they’ll get windburn and sunburn and reach their destination a torn up mess. Leaving plants unattended inside of a car on a hot or cold day is also unadvisable. Protect small- and medium-sized plants by wrapping them in paper before transit.
Expect an Adjustment Period
Depending on how traumatic the journey was, it may take a while for a plant to grow accustomed to its new space.
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I have a potted palm that I received as a gift on the day Vic and I were married 26 years ago. I’ve been lugging it from home to home forever. When it was finally busting out of the pot, I pitched the idea to hubby that we should throw it out. He said no, it’s our relationship palm. Whatever.
I divided and transplanted a smaller piece into a new pot and its growing better than ever.
Wonder what the deep meaning of that is?
Cindy — There’s something there about growing and changing but the core staying the same, but I just can’t spin it into a nice phrase…
Hi Julie, so nice to see you in the blogosphere! Congratulations on your wonderful addition to Homebody - I’ll stop by often to read what you and Cindy have to say,
cheers, Debra
Relationship plants. That is the best way to describe why these common plants have special meaning beyond their monetary worth.
The oakleaf ivy from Suzie Bristow was a gift to us on our wedding, 33 years ago. The plant has come in and out of the apartment and then houses- but it stays with us.
Then there is the ficus tree from our neighbors, Chuck and Sandra Price. It was a gift when my father-in-law died.
These plants are reminders not just of benchmark occasions- they symbolize the love felt when they were given.
The ficus tree