Want to travel with your plants but worried — Can You Take Live Plants on a Plane? Read on to know the dos and don’ts of Bringing Plants on a Flight!
Can You Take Live Plants on a Plane is a common question among plant owners, especially when planning a trip with their green friends. Let’s explore the topic in detail and clear all your doubts about Bringing Plants on a Plane!
Are Plants Allowed on Flights?
As stated by TSA [Transport Security Administration] of the US, plants are allowed in carry-on and checked bags, provided they are correctly packed in the baggage and will not trouble any passenger.
However, it is advisable to check out the respective airlines if their criteria allow carrying live plants onboard. Flying with plants within the US mainland is an easy affair, as long as you pass them through an x-ray machine for the security check.
Although, there are few restrictions on carrying a live plant beyond international boundaries. In such a case, you need to go through custom screening which will allow your plants if only they adhere to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations which include:
- The plants must be pest-free and not soil-bound.
- They should possess a foreign phytosanitary certificate in advance.
- They must fit in the weight and size limitations of the council.
- Do read the list and take a note of the plants that are not allowed.
- If you are taking plants on an international flight and out of a country, it would be good to get all the information at the embassy and with the airline company. Some countries have stringent quarantine laws and restrictions on importing live plants and bulbs.
- Most countries have strict rules and do numerous tests on plants to ensure they are fungus and disease-free. Ensure to get all the information; otherwise, you will lose your plant at the customs.
How Can You Take Live Plants on a Plane?
Flying with live plants might sound exciting, but you must keep a few cautions in mind if you do not want them to be trashed at the airport.
- Ensure that the plant can fit in the overhead shed or your checked luggage.
- Pluck off any dead or sick leaves as they would fall off otherwise while handling and litter the space. Cut out the thorns, if any, or wrap them tightly to avoid hurting others.
- If you are heading for a domestic flight, make sure the plant size along with the pot doesn’t exceed the hand luggage dimensions, i.e., 22 x 14 x 9 inches
- Spray the plant with needful pesticides and get a foreign phytosanitary certificate in advance.
- Contact the USDA for specific plants that are not allowed to be carried as they might interfere with the environmental stability of the land.
Tips to Pack your Plants on Flight
Be it a domestic or an international flight, it is crucial to keep your plant safe through the journey that too within the airline protocols.
- Cut down any overgrown leaf or stem so that it can save up space and easily fit in the box.
- Wrap the whole plant in a thick cardboard box to keep the tender stems and leaves safe.
- Keep the box secure using tape on all sides.
- You can also keep the plant inside the box using styrofoam. This will ensure that the pot stays securely in place.
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