indoor plants

The Best Way to Move Your Plants Between Homes

Relocating your family to a new home is already a big task, so bringing your cherished plants along can seem overwhelming! Managing the logistics of moving is challenging enough, and if you’re a plant lover like me the thought of safely transporting your beloved companions adds yet another layer of complexity. But don’t worry, you won’t have to leave your plants behind! Help You Dwell has put together a few of our essential tips to ensure your plants make the move safely and thrive in their new home.

First and foremost, if you're moving to a different state, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the local laws and regulations, particularly if you're transporting outdoor plants or trees. This is especially important because outdoor plants and trees can carry pests and diseases that might not be present in your new state. Different states have specific regulations to prevent the spread of these potential threats to their local ecosystems. Ensuring compliance with these regulations not only helps protect your new environment but also ensures that you avoid any legal complications or fines associated with non-compliance. Checking these rules in advance will make your move smoother and more stress-free!

The National Plant Board provides a comprehensive list of each state’s most recent regulations for you to review. Ensuring compliance with your new state's regulations can help prevent any issues during the move.

Most indoor plants are generally okay as long as you have re-potted them in fresh, sterile soil. This is also an excellent time to inspect your plants to prevent the spread of insects, diseases, and other pests into your new state.

Now is an ideal time to give your plants some extra care before relocating them. Pruning is highly recommended as it helps maintain their health and vitality. The Home Depot provides an excellent and comprehensive guide on how to prune all different types of plants. Take the time to remove any dead leaves, weeds, and pests to ensure your plants are in top condition for the move.

As moving day approaches, gradually increase the amount of water you give your plants. Be careful not to overwater them, but a bit of extra moisture will help them stay hydrated during the transition.

Moving homes is no easy task, and you're already going to be doing some heavy lifting, so why not make it easier on yourself? Help You Dwell always recommends packing your heavy pots and transplanting your plants into plastic containers that are easier to move. This is also the ideal time to replace old soil with fresh, sterile soil.

Travelling by car?

Avoid placing your plants in the trunk, as it restricts airflow and the constant movement can damage them. Instead, load your plants into the car last, ensuring they can be tended to first when you arrive at your new home. Bring along tools like a misting spray to keep them hydrated. If you have to stay overnight at a hotel, make sure to bring your plants inside with you; leaving them in the car can expose them to extreme temperatures, which could be fatal.

Traveling by plane?

Good news! TSA guidelines allow you to bring plants as either carry-on or checked items, provided they fit under the seat or in the overhead bin. Just remember that your plants will need to go through the X-ray machine on the conveyor belt before making it onto the plane.

As soon as you arrive at your new home, make sure to prioritize your plants and give them immediate attention. Start by carefully unpacking them and placing them in a suitable spot with the right amount of light and temperature. Next, inspect each plant thoroughly for any signs of damage, such as broken stems or crushed leaves, and remove any dead or damaged parts that may have been affected during the move.

It's common for plants to experience stress in a new environment, so don't be alarmed if you see some wilting or drooping. This reaction is normal and signals that your plants need some extra care while they acclimate to their new home. Ensure they are well-watered, but be careful not to overwater them.

Additionally, consider giving them a light misting to help them retain moisture. Keep an eye on their progress over the next few days and continue to provide them with the care they need to thrive. With a little patience and attention, your plants will adjust to their new surroundings and continue to bring life and beauty to your home.

 

The fun part comes next: Figure out where you want to place your plants, so your new home reflects your personality

 

If you are replacing or adding to your plants in your new home, check out your state’s native plants! In beautiful East Tennessee there are plenty to choose from, including Tennessee Coneflowers, Black-Eyed Susans, and of course the Flowering Dogwood. Check out a comprehensive list here!

Settling into your new home often means redecorating and possibly adding some new greenery, both indoors and in your yard. This transition is the perfect opportunity to visit local nurseries and expand your plant and garden family. Not only can you find plants that will thrive in your new environment, but you can also gain inspiration and advice from local experts.

One of our favorite local spots is Stanley’s Greenhouse. They offer an expansive selection of plants, from vibrant indoor foliage to hardy outdoor varieties. Whether you're looking for low-maintenance houseplants, colorful flowers for your garden, or unique plant vessels to match your new décor, Stanley’s Greenhouse has it all. Their knowledgeable staff can help you choose the right plants for your home and provide tips on how to care for them. So, take this opportunity to explore Stanley’s Greenhouse and add some fresh, beautiful greenery to your new home!

Ready to make your move with confidence and keep your beloved plants thriving?

Let Help You Dwell assist you every step of the way, contact us today for expert tips and personalized moving support!

bringing plants indoors

Have you ever felt like a room in your home was missing something? That it is completely decorated, filled with your favorite things but isn't quite right? It may be time to add in some green - with a plant of course! Today we've laid out a few ways to use plants inside + indoor plants that help filter your air, keeping your space looking and feeling fresh!

Photo Credit: Adam Ford

Photo Credit: Adam Ford

Photo Credit: Life Simplified

Photo Credit: Life Simplified

Photo Credit: CONVIVAL

Photo Credit: CONVIVAL

Photo Credit: Ashley Lauren Design Studio

Photo Credit: Ashley Lauren Design Studio

Photo Credit: Kirsten Grove

Photo Credit: Kirsten Grove

Wheather you go big with a ficus or keep it small with baby succulents, adding plants into your home is the perfect way to melt the winter blues away and bring life into your space! Below, HYD has picked six different plants that not only look pretty, but also filter your air. (that's a win-win in our books!)

Images: 1/2/3/4/5/6

With spring right around the corner be sure to pick up your favorites at the local nursery! 

Home Organization Projects | Before & After

Recent Home Organization Projects by Help You Dwell

January has been full of fun for HYD. We've had the privilege of organizing two home office areas, several closets, a couple of kitchen pantries, creating a playroom, overhauling a sunroom, and we're in the middle of helping organize, pack, and remove items from a mother-in-law's former condominium.

Every job has had it's own challenges and each homeowner had their own ideas and plans for the space we worked in. This is the part of our job that calls us to be good listeners and creative problem-solvers. We want to invite you to join us through our journey with some of January's clients thus far & let you see some of the photos and the reviews & quotes we received along the way. Because maybe you'll see yourself or a loved one who could truly benefit from a helping hand like the one HYD can give.

HOME OFFICE

Our first stop is a home office redo of a working mom of three school age kids. She's got a great space to work with, a tight budget, and an eagerness to get a system. Our goal was to not only create the space, but put in place routines that will help keep it ordered and functional while not breaking the bank on all kinds of new gadgets, storage containers, etc.

Before - Home Office

Before - Home Office

In the before, you'll see lots of extras lying around that aren't related to the office. With a little clean-up, purging, and rearranging (plus finding a fantastic donated shelving unit) we were able put together a much more functional area for the whole family to utilize.

Home Office - After

Home Office - After

The only purchased items to finish off the space were the woven file box on the bottom shelf of the shelf unit and the wire tray on the desk for active bills, school papers, and to do items. All the other baskets, frames/photos, etc the homeowner already had. We look forward to checking back in with her to see how things are going.

I actually sat in here and worked this week!
Money well spent!! So great to have these ladies help organize my space and take control of my domain again!!

SUNROOM

First of all, what a wonderful space to work in! This client was overjoyed to get to cash in her gift certificate she won in our December giveaway by asking for our help in creating a sunroom for reading, thinking, snuggling, and just enjoying. We were more than happy to help. Having just moved into her new home with her husband and two littles, she was very open to suggestions and ideas of how to make the space work best. She had lots of family furniture pieces to work with along with a wonderful selection of plants given to her by her late grandmother.

Sunroom - Before

Sunroom - Before

Again, such a fabulous room to work with but it can also be a challenge when you have so much room to want to fill it up with furniture, plants, and accessories just because you have the space. If we're going a peaceful getaway type room, cozy and comfortable are part of the goal but order and simplicity must be included as well. The plants also bring great color and life to the room but too many can cause the room to feel messy. We took great care to find the right plants for the right spaces throughout the house so that each one can be enjoyed and properly cared for.

Sunroom - After

Sunroom - After

Once we walked through the house and basement to see what furniture pieces we had to work with and where some of the extra plants could be enjoyed in the house, we then started the great rearrange! Creating a breakfast nook for quiet mornings, a desk near the windows for thoughtful contemplation, a couch and seating area for great conversation, and added a much needed bookshelf (located on the left wall) to house all the books for snuggling up and reading.

HYD was SUCH a gift to my house! They created space where there was only plants and stuff mashed together. They created atmosphere by giving important items a perfect place to fit in the sunroom. HYD also gave me “permission” (you know how you cling to things that should be let go of?) to get rid of. Now I can’t help but to walk into the room and just look around in awe, loving my new space, and enjoying sharing it with whoever drops by. Thank you SO very much HYD! I will be recommending you many times over (and asking you to come again for sure!)

PANTRY

The last leg of our journey today takes us to a home of a family with two little ones and twins on the way! Lots to prepare for here. As mom and dad plan ahead, they know systems will be one of their greatest allies in surviving four little ones. HYD took on the kitchen pantries. With limited cabinet space, these homeowners need to make their two pantries work well. Our job was to make sure everything had a home, it was easy to access, and the littles had kid-friendly items down low so they could get their own snacks, etc. Below are the before shots of each pantry.

Once we got a good look at all the items in each pantry, we realized that we needed to consolidate, purge, and regroup many of the items. We designated the pantry on the right as the snack and non-cooking pantry. It's full of the grab-n-go items like snack bars, juice boxes, dried fruit, crackers, nut spreads, etc. Easy for the babysitter to find what he or she needs to feed hungry preschoolers.

The pantry on the left is now the designated appliance and cooking pantry filled with appliances, canned goods, pasta, root vegetables, cookbooks, and other small appliance-type accessories like batteries and light bulbs now contained in clear storage bins for easy access.

Adding the storage containers to the grab-n-go pantry was key. It's much easier to access the items, see what you have, and if labeling is your thing, the blue area on the front of each container is a dry erase area for easy labeling. 


This is just a glimpse of what we've been up to this month. We hope you've gotten inspired to find that space in your home to tackle and bring new life to. Creating order where there was once none can be such a springboard for freedom in other areas of your life as well. Don't wait, make room in your schedule today to purge, reorder, and create the space you've always longed for. If you need help, we'd be glad to give it, whether it's a little or a lot.