There always comes a moment right before a PCS when it hits me: How am I going to get my plant babies from point A to point B without losing a single leaf? My houseplants aren’t just décor, they’re part of my routine, my comfort, and honestly, my sanity. If I’m gone for more than a week, they start to droop like they missed me… and maybe they do. I’ve rehomed a few over the years, including our beloved avocado tree that we grew from a commissary avocado pit. That thing was over nine feet tall and had no business trying to fit in the back of my husband’s trailer. Luckily, my old neighbor was thrilled to adopt it. A few went to my daughter’s boyfriend because he is family, and I feel good about them going to him.  But this time? The rest of the leafy crew is coming with us. No ifs, ands, or buts. And thank goodness this wasn’t an overseas move, I’m not sure I could emotionally unpack that kind of goodbye.
I packed up the rest of my plant kids in boxes and loaded them into my husband’s PCS trailer, that we use for our partial DITY every PCS. Luckily, the weather was mild for the two day trip, so no one roasted or froze. They spent the next 10 days with us in the hotel like leafy little roommates. Most bounced back just fine… except my giant peace lily. She’s still dramatic about the whole thing nearly two months later.
The best way to move houseplants is to treat them like the fragile, dramatic little passengers they are. A few days before the move, give them a good watering (but not soaking), and trim any dead leaves to reduce stress. Use open boxes to keep them upright and padded, I like to stuff towels or packing paper around the pots to keep them from tipping. Keep them in your vehicle if you can, not the moving truck, so they stay at a decent temperature and don’t get tossed around like cargo. If you’re traveling overnight, bring them inside…  yes, like guests. They’ve earned it.
Beautiful, bold, and mildly dangerous… a story of FernandoÂ
Fernando, our agave plant, has always been the strong, silent type, and by strong, I mean full of sneaky little needles that could turn a casual brush-by into a regret filled moment. He was gorgeous, but let’s be honest… I was kind of scared of him. I watered him from a respectful distance and never dared touch him. But before the move, Fernando had to undergo what we lovingly called a “needle-ectomy” a little safety trim to make him travel ready and less hazardous to everyone involved. These days, he’s still beautiful, but not quite so ouchie. We’re all getting along much better now.
So yes, moving with houseplants during a PCS is chaotic, mildly ridiculous, and occasionally involves performing needle-ectomies in your living room. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. These plants are part of our family, they’ve seen every duty station, every weird rental kitchen, every porch swing, and every season of life we’ve dragged them through. They might get a little stressed, a little droopy, maybe even hold a grudge like my peace lily, but they bounce back. Honestly, don’t we all?
I love this Military Mom Collective blog about National Houseplant Appreciation Day
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