National Indoor Plant Week is celebrated during the third week of September, making it a perfect time for Long Beach-area plant lovers to refresh their indoor plant care routines before fall. Since Mark Martin, the founder of this annual celebration, first started this special week in 2007, it has encouraged more people to enjoy plants at home, at work, and in school. But because September means very different things in Southern California than it does in colder parts of the country, it’s worth asking: why is this plant-focused week held in September?
National Indoor Plant Week!
September 14-20, 2026
Why September Matters for National Indoor Plant Week
September makes sense for National Indoor Plant Week because it aligns with two seasonal plant-care realities: refreshed tropical plant inventory following the hot summer months and the start of colder-season prep in other parts of the country.
For commercial spaces, this can be a practical time to update indoor greenery before seasonal routines shift. Around this time of the year, our plant suppliers often have stronger shipments of tropical plants, giving us more options for updating interior plant displays.
For people in colder regions, September is also a reminder that it’s time to bring their plants back inside before the first frost. That seasonal timing looks different here in Long Beach and the greater Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura County areas we serve, including Thousand Oaks, where frost is rarely a concern. September still makes sense, though, when you consider that Martin was based in the Chicago metro area, where frost can arrive around mid-October.
Key Benefits of Indoor Plants
4 Ways We Can All Participate in National Indoor Plant Week
1. GROW YOUR PLANT COLLECTION
Use this week as an opportunity to expand your plant collection. Visit your local nursery or plant shop to discover a new species that would thrive in your space. Consider plants suited for your environment, whether it’s a low-light snake plant for a darker room or a fiddle-leaf fig for a spot with plenty of indirect light.
2. SPREAD PLANT LOVE
Know someone who could use a little greenery in their life? Gift a plant! Plants make excellent gifts that keep on giving. They can also introduce someone else to the joys of indoor gardening. A snake plant is usually the best easy-care gift plant. It tolerates low light and infrequent watering better than most indoor plants. Another option is a ZZ plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia). They’re drought-tolerant and forgiving.
3. DECORATE WITH PLANTS
Get creative with your interior design! Try hanging planters, shelves filled with small succulents, or a statement plant to breathe new life into a room. A statement plant is a large, eye-catching plant used as a focal point, something that draws attention. Examples include a fiddle leaf fig, monstera, or a tall rubber plant. Mixing and matching different plant species can create a layered indoor garden effect.
4. CREATE A PLANT CARE ROUTINE
National Indoor Plant Week is a great time to give your plants some extra TLC. Set up a watering schedule, dust off their leaves, and evaluate your pottery and containers. The right container can make a big difference in how well a plant grows. Repot plants that may have outgrown their containers. If a plant is drying out too quickly, staying too wet, or showing roots at the surface or in the drainage holes, it may be time to repot. Ensuring proper care will help your plants thrive all year long.
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