Traveling with plant?
Hello! I was wondering if anyone has ever traveled with a plant on an airplane. I am going on a trip (domestic flight) and may have to be taking a small potted plant back with me. I checked and saw that the TSA does allow for plants in carry-ons and checked luggage. Just wondering if anyone here has ever actually done this and if you could provide any tips or insight on how to safely travel with a plant. Any feedback is super helpful :) thanks in advance!
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I’ve never personally traveled with a plant, but they are allowed on airplanes as long as you’re not leaving the country! I do live very close to a bordering country, and I have brought plants back through the border with no trouble also. It will be ok to bring a plant with you! If you’re buying it from a plant shop or greenhouse, they should be able to wrap it for you so it will be safe to travel with!
It might be easier to mail it. If you're traveling with it, I'd pack it as tho you were mailing it. There are lots of guides for mailing plants online, (and it depends on the kind of plant) but my recommendation in general would be to remove it from the pot, removed excess dirt, wrap the roots in moist newspaper or sphagnum moss, then wrap again in plastic. After the root ball is secure, I'd place the plant in a sturdy box, and use a combination of filler around the leaves (ripped up egg cartons works well), bubble wrap, cardboard, whatever, to insulate and (most importantly) ensure that no matter what way the box is moved, there's no jostling or shifting. For smaller plants, something like a plastic take-out container in your suitcase would work. I brought a plant cutting home in my suitcase once by wrapping the end in wet paper towels and sticking in a clean slushie cup that I taped shut.
