September gardening: bring your houseplants in before the cool nights

September is the garden’s “last call,” as The Old Farmer’s Almanac puts it. Nights are cooling and plants are slowing down: the perfect time to prep for fall and next spring.

Bring houseplants in before the first frost

Plants that spent summer outdoors should come back inside before the first frost. Expert advice: inspect and treat them for pests before bringing them into your home.

Plant spring bulbs now

Order or buy your spring-flowering bulbs — daffodils, hyacinths, lilies, tulips — now for the best selection, and plant them in the coming weeks.

Houseplants that love fall

Indoors, some species thrive as light fades and air dries: the peace lily (Spathiphyllum), which blooms when others slow down, or easy growers like pothos and snake plant, per ClassyPlants.

Sources

• The Old Farmer’s Almanac — September Gardening Checklist
• ClassyPlants — Best Houseplants for Fall 2026
• Gardening Know How — September 2026 archive