Have you ever felt lost while experiencing change? In fact, I've been thinking a lot about the concept of transplant shock lately, as it has been a beautiful metaphor for what I am personally going through right now after moving 1,500 miles from New York to Florida. It's a plant-life parallel that gave me so much comfort and guidance during this season of discomfort and change, and I have a feeling that it will resonate with many of you. So in this episode, we’re talking about “transplant shock” and the change and the lessons we can learn during challenging times.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [02:24] How can we express change in different ways?
• [02:50] What are the top three stressors for humans?
• [04:18] Why did I experience transplant shock?
• [06:50] Wilted plant = transplant shock
• [07:54] Plant-life parallels and personal reflections
• [09:51] What is transplant shock?
• [10:33] What are the symptoms of transplant shock?
• [10:43] How can a plant recover from transplant shock?
• [12:21] What does transplant shock look like in humans?
• [13:36] How do you treat transplant shock in humans?
• [15:37] Bring more light and positivity to your plants and life with Soltech grow lights!
• [17:03] Start planning your next gardening season with the Tiny Farm Planner by Jill Ragan!
• [18:28] Why you should be patient
• [20:55] Nutrient of “socialization”
• [22:00] How to turn transplant shock into growth

 

 

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Experiencing Change

Change can be interpreted in many different ways. Maybe you're like me and you've moved homes. Maybe you're going through a breakup, starting a new job, or suffering a loss. There are so many different things that can trigger change, and change affects us in any capacity.

These changes can uproot us and cause stress, similar to how a plant experiences transplant shock when moved to a new environment. We had to move quickly when my husband got a new job and felt uprooted. And this term “uprooted” comes from plants being taken out of their soil. Then when replanted, they often experience transplant shock. 

Just like a plant dealing with transplant shock, I have been keeping this parallel really close to my heart while I deal with some big changes.

 

What is Transplant Shock?

Transplant shock in plants happens when they are moved from one environment to another, which disturbs their root system. Roots are important for water and nutrient absorption, and when they are disturbed, it affects the plant's ability to take up essential elements like water and nutrients, which leads to symptoms like wilting, yellowing leaves, and stunted growth.

 

Treating Transplant Shock in Plants

To revive a plant from transplant shock, you can follow these steps:

• Water properly – make sure the soil is evenly moist but not soaked
• Provide shade – protect it from too much sunlight
• Prune damaged parts – remove damaged leaves to conserve energy
• Avoid fertilizing – let the plant get comfy before adding nutrients
• Good drainage – don’t let roots sit in water
• Be patient  – transplant shock takes time to overcome

Doesn’t this sound a lot like life?

 

Human Transplant Shock

Speaking of life, when we go through big changes like moving or a new job, it takes us time to adjust too. So when we look at transplant shock for humans, let's go back to the original symptoms for a plant and what that could look like as a human. Symptoms might include exhaustion (wilting), feeling like you’re tired/bored with old routines (yellowing leaves), or feeling stuck (stunted growth).

 

Caring for Yourself During Change

So if you are a human going through transplant shock, here are the things you need to do:

• “Water” yourself – stay hydrated and take care of yourself
• Prune what doesn't work – drop old habits that no longer serve you
• Avoid “overfertilizing” – don’t pressure yourself to do everything at once
• Give yourself grace and be patient – allow yourself to adjust to the new things you're experiencing

 

Finding New “Nutrients” in Change

Just like a repotted plant might suddenly get access to new nutrients, try to look for the positive aspects of your new situation. For me, moving to Florida has given me easier access to socialization, which I lacked in my isolated home in New York. In Florida, we're so much closer to everyone. I'm eight minutes from my sister, and it’s very easy for me to get in my car and go to a Starbucks and work for half a day.

 

Establishing Roots in a New Environment

For those of you who have recently moved, I wanted to talk about all of the different things that I'm doing to establish my roots faster, to establish community, to feel anchored, and to feel secure as quickly as possible so that I can flourish in Florida and don't sit in this state of transplant shock for the next six months.

• Join local clubs or groups
• Attend community events
• Explore your neighborhood
• Introduce yourself to neighbors
• Use social media and apps like Nextdoor, Facebook groups, or Bumble BFF (I use these!)
• Support local businesses
• Take classes and workshops
• Get involved in local causes and volunteer

We all are going to go through transplant shock at some point in our lives, plant friends. It's hard, it's not fun, but there's so much potential for growth on the other side. Give yourself grace, be patient, and trust that you're not alone.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Growing Joy Ep 255: I Moved 80+ Plants Across the Country: Here's What I Learned
• Nextdoor
• Bumble BFF
• Meetup
• Mounts Botanical Garden
• Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Soltech Solutions

If you've recently moved like me, ensure your plants are getting enough light in their new environment! Soltech Solutions offers grow lights with full-spectrum white light that mimics the sun to keep your plants happy and healthy: whether you are looking for a pendant light, track lighting, or a simple bulb to screw into any standard light fixture, Soltech has got you covered. They offer quality products with great customer service, free shipping, and a multi-year warranty. Keep the sun shining and the plants green inside your home with Soltech Solutions.

Check them out at soltechsolutions.com and get 15% off with code “bloom15”.

Quarto: The Tiny Farm Planner: Record Keeping, Seasonal To-Dos, and Resources for Managing Your Small-Scale Home Farm by Jill Ragan

It's never too early to plan for the next gardening season, and I've got the perfect planning partner for you. Tiny Farm Planner by Jill Ragan serves as a guidebook, record keeper, and task tracker for small-scale farmers and backyard gardeners everywhere. This book is divided into seasonal sections, not calendar dates, so you'll easily be able to track everything from planting dates to chore lists to plant yields to harvest times, no matter what climate and zone you grow in. The Tiny Farm Planner is a complete system for recording all the data, thoughts, and inspiration you need to keep your garden productive and healthy from year to year.

Pick it up at your favorite local bookstore, bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble, quarto.com or amazon.com.

 

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