Thanks for the replies! Purpleinopp: The company is paying for our moving costs, and while the owner is also a plant lover, she isn't willing to pay THAT much for me to have greenery! Some of our containers are rather large. Rachel: So far the list of plants that we'll move is: two small/medium african violets, one small christmas cactus, 2' tall mother-in-law's tongue, pothos w/ a couple 8 foot vines (might get a haircut), angel wing begonia in a 14" pot (WILL get a haircut, it's lanky and I already know it bounces back very well), ficus benjamina 12" high in 6" pot, peace lily in 12" pot, a few spider plant pups, and an 18" tall money tree. I will also grab a few jade leaves from the massive tree where I am now (owner is ok with it) and pack them with the other cuttings. There is also an outdoor 3' cement pot with a small rosemary but I'm not really concerned about that one; it's used to the cold. Fortunately we should be able to pack things rather securely; we have 4'x4'x4' wood crates that will have plywood lids nailed on. Our boxes are all the same height and fit very well into the crates so I can get a nice secure base. I never pack anything against a plant that is taller than the pot, so worst case, I'll only lose the container. Since I am flying with the dog, my car will be on a flatbed freight truck. The other option is to secure the plants in the car where they should at least get some light. I suspect that in good weather they will get enough light on the windows to prevent freezing during the day, but if the truck gets caught in a storm I will lose them for sure. My best estimation is to take cuttings from the ones I can and put them in one location while the containers ride in the other. That way, I might have some survive. Luckily, none of these are terribly difficult to find or grow, but each one has memories attached. Looking forward to any other suggestions or experience!

Wow! That sounds like a rough trip, and a very HOT time of the year to move it. Any chance of sending it out early (like now!)? If it were me, and depending on the size, I would put the whole thing in a huge insulated box and overnight it to its new home. Take most of the soil off the roots and put that moisture-retentive gel on them and seal the root ball tightly in plastic. Wrap the branches carefully in foam and tape down - just enough to keep them from flopping about. Then suspend the tree well in the center of the box and fill with "peanuts". I would use DHL or someone who is an expert at shipping larger sizes and things that need special handling. Then, when it got to CA, I would repot it the minute it arrived and water the stink out of it for the rest of the summer! I know how you feel about your tree. Its become part of the family! I would take mine too, although I would have to dig it up out of the garden. In fact, if I ever do have to move (and I hope not), I'm afraid I would have to hire some commercial nursery people to dig up all my Japanese Maples so I could take them with me. How could I leave them behind, at the risk that the new owner would not take care of them!? It would be like leaving your dog behind! Good luck, and let us know how you do it! :-) K4

I now have experience with Cross Country Nurseries. :) I got enticed by their offer for plants for $1.75 (end of season sale). I ordered some Bhut Jolokias since my grown plants from seed don't look great. There were also a few other C. Chinese I wanted to try from there. I am very impressed with their plants. Great packaging, nice looking translants. I give them a thumbs up. No damage at all in transit. Chilewoman's plants were a bit larger and more lush, but both companies are very close. I'd feel confident with either place that the merchandise is top notch. I'll always grow from seed for the most part because I couldn't afford to buy the quantity of plants I grow each season. But for specialty ones or those growing lesser quantities, I think these places are wonderful outlets to buy plants! Chris

I have moved plants cross country, not so bad. We had a bag of Hoya cuttings under the passenger side visor and pots of things in the back of a u-haul. Styrofoam boxes and coolers are a great idea, but we just tucked pots in the back of the uhaul wherever we could have them stable. Granted, it was a March move, so temps were relatively mellow. Still, upper Michigan to Washington state. Plants spent 5 days without light, and while they were a little sad on arrival bounced back quick. Yours should do just fine.