I'm emotionally attached to this particular pothos and want to take her with me on a domestic flight. However, I'm worried about her leaves getting damaged and her soil getting everywhere.
Since the plant is quite small, I'm considering putting her in a clear plastic cup like this to protect her. This requires gently bending her leaves to fit them inside (I don't have a bigger cup). The total flight + car time should be ~6 hours. Will being like this hurt her? Is there a better way to transport plants?
by blu3berr13s
31 Comments
Pothos are super hardy, she could probably fall out of the pot altogether and still be fine. That being said, if you were really worried you could try filling the empty space between the leaves with something soft like poly fil. I bought an aralia from etsy was packed like that and it was in perfect condition when it arrived. They also had some tape over the pot so the soil wouldn’t fall out when fedex was playing hacky sack with it.
You might get stopped at security and have to get rid of it. I would remove all the soil so it’s just roots and stem then put it in a moist Ziploc bag in your suitcase
Edit: TIL TSA does not care about traveling with plants
Ship it to wherever you’re going
Hey! I think you’ll be fine just carrying the lil pot through security. I flew my much bigger pothos when moving and I did it in a tote bag with a rectangular tray at the bottom to have a shape. she’s thriving in her new home right now. I did get 3 yellow leaves because I was a lil too rough with her but all’s well that ends well. The small pothos in the Coca Cola cup is also doing pretty well considering it was much more banged up (I hadn’t been as careful as I thought I was). Security gave me 0 issues when I put my plants through the metal detector.
https://preview.redd.it/tqqg1gbgxv6g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b307a418430c974b1e1014edeb2b0ed60cfa0c9b
There’s always a chance security will decide not to let you take it, but for domestic flights, my friends and I have always just tossed them in our purses (potted, in a ziplock, naked once) and it hasn’t been an issue.
I have taken soooo many plants thru security on planes without any issue. Usually bare root in wet paper towels though. The cup idea is a good one to prevent crushing!
I’ve returned home from other places and brought plants with me on the plane.. As long as it’s no more than 1gal, I believe, and you don’t have that metal pot, if it can fit in your carry-on, they won’t bother you about it. I’d temporarily, transplant it to a plastic garden pot, then some stretch wrap around the dirt, and a cup on top for protection.. Pull it out when you can, layover or sitting at the gate, just for ventilation and light
Huge chance that security will not let you through. Live plants are a huge bio security risk, even domestically
I have flown domestic with plants both with and without soil. No issues.
Check the guides online. But I think it’ll have to be just the plant itself in a baggie and through security then you can add a wet paper towel to it after you get through security.
I transported 3 orchids in big cupcake containers. It worked!
What about a Tupperware container? More structured and with a top.
The packaging is safe for air transport, and while I’ve taken plants with me on an airplane the TSA told me it’s up to the individual agent as to whether or not they’ll be searched and/or seized. I’ve never personally had an issue though, even traveling into California where they’re strict about agricultural products. If possible I recommend carrying them on and ideally put them in you small personal bag.
I’ve traveled with small plants on long road trips (12hrs+) and flights. Best luck I had was to wrap the bare roots into a wet (not dripping) paper towel, and gently put the whole plant into a hard shelled container. I’ve used travel mugs, jars, and lidded bowls depending on the plant
i’ve flown w a plant in my purse. you will get stopped because of the soil. hours ahead of flight: take it out of soil, wrap the roots in a paper towel. and you can put it in a zip lock or a container and itll be fine. when you arrive just pop it open so you give it new air, it’ll have a very earthy smell.
Brought a string of pearls and a pothos back from the Florida Keys with no issue. I flew out of Miami but nobody said a word about them in my carry on. String of pearls was in a 6 inch pot in a ziploc bag in my carryon and my pothos was a couple vines in a ziploc with wet paper towels. I’ve propped into three different full plants now.
I’ve flown with a small pomegranate tree.
It’s fine if it’s within USA ive done it before similar to how you have without issues!
Oh dude I’ve flown with a ton of plants you’re fine but treat it like a backpack that goes under your seat.
I’ve flown with pothos, a 10lb concrete base succulent arrangement. You’re fine.
Are you flying to CA? They’re the only state that might have a problem with it
Flying won’t be a problem. I’ve taken a little tomato plant through. I didn’t pack him away, I just held him the entire way. He say on my tray table. I got tons of comments, mostly positive and cute.
If you can actually put it in a cup the other way, with cup turned right side up, it may be better. I transported some plants like that and they do great. The top of the cup protects the leaves and the sides/bottom catch any soil that might escape.
Checked bag or carry on? If you’re going checked bag, no. The soil will absolutely get shaken out the pot and will be a mess in your bag the way baggage handlers throw bags around. You need to secure the soil so there is no shifting or movement.
Add polly fill to the top of soil and cross tape it. That’s how I ship my plants. The cup around the leaves is a good idea. I would tape that as well.
https://preview.redd.it/f1szrmtrnw6g1.png?width=960&format=png&auto=webp&s=9ad237ab297fce8053ede913750ec73229e7c270
Take it out of the soil, wrap in a damp paper towel, and stick into a small plastic bottle. Cut it to fit. It will be lighter and easier to transport. They survive it just fine.
This might work, but I’d add a whole lot of clear packing tape at the bottom. And I would absolutely punch some holes for air in the top.
I’ve noticed even when transporting clippings locally that lack of air is usually what causes problems. That said more often than not they’ll bounce back.And with this being a pothos, you should be good to go. But I see no downside to some air holes other than maybe a little dirt getting somewhere. Given the overall situation that seems pretty minor. Everyone else covered the other stuff. Good luck!
Because it’s domestic and it’s in your carry on items it should be totally fine
Flying with plants
https://preview.redd.it/mciwywr7pw6g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=32370268e61bb10dc34fdb2b20d42b472ad4d24a
You’re allowed to bring plants on planes. No matter what it will go through some shock but put it in water and let it chill.
I think it will just get x-ray’d and on you go. That little cup should do its job and Porthos are pretty hearty. You’ll get there safe.
PS: unless you’re tight on time for your connecting flight, let other people out of the plane first so you have plenty of room to move with your travelling companion.
I literally flew with a plant cutting in a damp paper towel in a the ice bag from a hotel. The only person who questioned it was my neighbor on the plane, and she was frankly shocked that I was traveling with a plant. I think I may have given her an idea.
I have used a three liter bottle: cut it in half, place plant inside, tape back together, and voila.