Importing plants into Canada is a legal responsibility for the Importer of Record (IOR), who must ensure they have all necessary documents and permits for imports. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CBSA) regulates how plants enter and leave the country, working closely with other government departments and agencies.
You are allowed to bring up to 50 houseplants from the USA to Canada at a time. However, there are certain restrictions and regulations that must be followed when importing plants from foreign countries. The Canadian government has a personal exemption that allows you to bring up to 50 houseplants from the mainland United States, but you may be asked to provide proof of origin at the border.
When importing plants from foreign countries, make sure they meet entry requirements as stated by Customs and Border Protection. You must request permission from CBSA and Agriculture Canada prior to importing any plant/animal material into Canada. Penalties can be quite high.
Various food, plant, and animal products are restricted or prohibited entry because they can harbor invasive species, foreign animal diseases, and plant pests. Live plants produced in Canada to the United States can be brought if they meet the following conditions: seeds, fresh cut flowers, greenery. Household plants are exempt and can be carried without any paperwork, as long as they are properly labeled and tagged.
In summary, importing plants into Canada requires thorough planning and preparation, including visiting the Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) before traveling to the US, obtaining permits, and meeting entry requirements.
📹 A Cross Country Move, With House Plants!
Last year we made the move from Washington State to Texas And that meant moving/getting rid of, over a hundred house plants!
How long can plants survive in a moving truck?
Pack your plants before loading them into your moving vehicle. Healthy plants can stay in boxes for up to a week, but it’s best to avoid leaving them boxed for more than a few days. Box them according to their size and shape, arranging small and medium plants together and adding newspaper or bubble wrap between them. To avoid paper waste, use clothes or towels to surround each plant to prevent it from moving.
Can you bring houseplants through customs?
Travelers are allowed to wrap plants in damp newspaper to prevent drying and secure roots in plastic bags. To bring 13 or more plants, they must obtain an import permit from APHIS and mail or ship them to the nearest USDA Plant Inspection Station. Hand-carrying is not allowed. All costs for moving or treating plants will be the importer’s responsibility. Seeds from trees and shrubs are prohibited in passenger baggage.
What is the cheapest way to ship live plants?
The cost of shipping plants depends on their dimensions, weight, and required delivery speed. The most economical way to ship plants is via USPS Priority Mail, using flat-rate boxes or standard packaging materials. The gardening industry is projected to reach $127 billion worldwide in 2024, with direct-to-consumer (D2C) merchandise sales likely to surpass $213 billion in the US alone. To ship live plants safely and efficiently, follow these steps: water the plants, prune them, inspect for pests and diseases, and choose proper pots. This will ensure your business thrives and your plants arrive at customers’ doorsteps safe and sound.
Can I bring my houseplants to Canada?
Canada allows up to 50 houseplants without paperwork for personal use, as long as they are tropical and semi-tropical plants that cannot survive outside Canada and are considered low-risk. The list of eligible plants can be found on the CFIA website. If a plant lacks this paperwork, it could be destroyed or returned to its country of origin. If buying from an international seller, it is important to confirm they send a phytosanitary certificate from their country with the plant.
An import permit from the CFIA must be issued before the plant leaves its country of origin. BorderBuddy is a business that ensures timely and unharmed delivery of plants, seeds, or flowers. If you have any questions about importing or exporting plants, seeds, or flowers, contact them for assistance.
How do I ship live plants in Canada?
When shipping plants, ensure they are packed in the right container, such as cardboard boxes or corrugated box dividers. For fresh flowers or cuttings, use plastic wrap and secure it in a sturdy corrugated box with shredded tissue paper for cushioning. Seal the box with strong packing tape and choose a reliable carrier like USPS Priority Mail for delivery. The shipping cost of a plant depends on its dimensions, weight, and required speed. The most economical way to ship many plants is via USPS Priority Mail, using flat-rate boxes or standard packaging materials to minimize costs.
Can you ship houseplants internationally?
To ship plants to different countries, obtain proper permits and paperwork before dropping off the package. The Terminal Inspection Act mandates proper labeling on the package, which can be written on the box or package. If shipping plants with the USPS, consider the following steps: check with the state for restrictions on which plants can be shipped, and ensure all necessary permits are obtained. This will ensure a smooth and efficient shipping process.
Can I bring plants on a plane in Canada?
It should be noted that while plants and flowers are permitted within Canada, specific regulations apply with regard to their importation and exportation. For further details, please refer to the Canadian Border Services Agency website.
Can you fly with houseplants?
It is advisable to ascertain from the airline whether the item in question is permitted to be stored in the overhead bin or underneath the seat on the airplane. It is advisable to utilise an official website of the United States government, such as . gov, in order to ascertain that the connection is secure and that sensitive information is only shared on websites that have been verified as safe.
Can you move houseplants from US to Canada?
Canada generally permits houseplants from the mainland United States, but may require proof of origin at the border. Houseplants are commonly known and recognized indoor plants, and bonsai plants are not considered houseplants. If importing houseplants from the continental United States as baggage or household effects, phytosanitary certificates or import permits are not required. However, for all other plants from the United States, a phytosanitary certificate from the U. S. Department of Agriculture and an import permit from the CFIA may be required.
Can I bring houseplants from Canada to us?
Canada’s live plants, seeds, cut flowers, and greenery can be imported to the United States if they meet certain conditions. These include having a phytosanitary certificate from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and an import permit for restricted or prohibited plants. Fresh allium bulbs are prohibited unless accompanied by a phytosanitary certificate from the CFIA, with an additional declaration stating the shipment is free of Acrolepiopsis assectella.
Thoroughly dried allium bulbs may enter without documentation. Arrowhead tubers are also prohibited unless a PPQ Form 526, Noxious Weed Permit from APHIS is obtained. Fresh cherries grown in Ontario Province are also prohibited.
How do you move houseplants across the country?
To pack plants for moving, wrap large plants with old bed sheet or tissue paper to prevent branches from breaking. Place each pot in a box snugly at the bottom, pack paper around the base of the pot if necessary, label, and control the plants. After the move, condition your plants for moving to endure changes without wilting or breaking. Re-pot plants three weeks before moving day, prune larger plants two weeks before moving, and check plants for insects and parasites one week before moving.
Have a plan for giving away or disposing of pesticides before moving. Water your plants normally, taking care not to overwater, as too much water can cause freezing in cold weather or promote fungus growth in warm weather. This will help your plants survive the move for up to three days before needing attention.
📹 How To Bring Indoor Plants Outside For The Summer. Getting Houseplants To Fast Growth!
Have you ever wondered whether or not it’s worth bringing your indoor plants outside for the summer. This garden in Canada …
Thanks so much for your articles! I have learned alot from them. I live in a dark house that really isn’t suitable for plants. 😕 We have tinted windows for climate control. Most of my potted plants live outside on our wrap around veranda. We live in Queensland, Australia. My few indoor plants are in LECA. We get about 2 weeks of serious Winter minimums around the zero mark. There aren’t many care articles about keeping outside potted plants. I wish there were more. 😕
Love moving plants out to my balcony for the summer! Hoya’s definitely go out in hopes of getting some blooms and then usually things that aren’t too big/leafy so they’re easier to clean and watch for pests when they come back inside. I also move out anything that’s struggling with the threat that they either get it together or they don’t come back inside in the fall!
My part of Canada gets 20-30c during the day but it’s so dry here, the warmth leaves as soon as the sun sets, dipping down to 5c. I wish I could give my plants an outdoor vacation but I would need to bring them back in every night. Great tip on sprinkling DE on top of the soil when bringing the plants back in!
I have designated plants that I bring out every summer, including an asparagus fern, some Ivy, And just this year I propagated some wandering plants for outdoor planters, and brought my snake plants outside as well. I do use neem oil on outdoor plants to prevent them from getting eaten by white flies, and I will also spray them before coming back in the house. This year I think I will add diatomaceous earth to the soil as well.
This summer I’d like to try bringing a few of my houseplants outside to see how it goes. I actually had to purchase a greenhouse tent and lights to use indoors because I’m in a temporary living situation with wildly insufficient lighting. I’m thinking about trying to bring the tent outside as it does have a PE cover so sunlight would be able to reach my plants. I thought this might be a good way to prevent some of the issues like exposure to wind and other weather that could be harmful, and to trap humidity for my tropicals. What do you think of this idea? Would you only recommend a setup like that for the hardening off process, or could this be an appropriate environment for the whole growing season? I would love to give my plants that extra boost of sunlight so their growth can really take off.
I put some on the back porch which is closed- in but is all glass. I do put tradescantia outside but I give them away in October in plant swap, they are beautiful but I can’t keep them alive through winter. I have one heart leaf philodendron outside and tons of bugs run out of the pot when I water it so I won’t put anymore out.
I have wasabi plants that I bring outdoors in a shady area when it’s good weather and they do really well. But why is that? Curious about what the difference is in growing them indoors under a grow lamp and outdoors in the shade. Is it the spectrum of light, wind, or rain that makes them grow bigger?
what do people do about the rain? How do you deal with say a week of rain? The plants will get waterlogged, right? Even with well-draining soil and raising the plant off the ground, how do they manage with unpredictable weather? I’m already thinking I may have to bring them in if there’s a lot of rain forecast which could be a real pain, especially if it happens to be when I’m out of town. Be really curious to hear how people handle this.
Last summer I decided (without doing any research) to bring my pothos outside. No hardening off, right into the sun and heavy rain. It did not go well to say the least! The leaves were scorched and after a year of trying to nurse it back to health, it still is in rough shape. All its attempts at new growth turn brown. Obviously I know better now, but what can I do to bring back my scraggly brown pothos? Poor thing didn’t deserve this mistreatment 😅