Your Free Plant Care Cheat Sheet
10 common houseplants. What they need. How not to kill them. One page.
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What’s in the Cheat Sheet
Quick reference for the 10 most popular houseplants:
| Plant | Light | Water | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | Low–bright indirect | Every 7–10 days | Forgiving, trails beautifully |
| Snake Plant | Low–bright indirect | Every 2–6 weeks | Nearly indestructible |
| ZZ Plant | Low–bright indirect | Every 2–4 weeks | Stores water in roots |
| Peace Lily | Low–medium indirect | Every 5–7 days | Wilts when thirsty (dramatic but fine) |
| Spider Plant | Bright indirect | Every 7–10 days | Pet-safe, propagates easily |
| Rubber Plant | Bright indirect | Every 7–10 days | Dramatic large leaves |
| Monstera | Bright indirect | Every 7–10 days | Iconic split leaves |
| Succulent/Cactus | Bright direct/indirect | Every 2–6 weeks | Fast-draining soil essential |
| Heartleaf Philodendron | Low–bright indirect | Every 7–10 days | Trails like pothos, very forgiving |
| Chinese Evergreen | Low–medium indirect | Every 7–10 days | Colorful, very tolerant |
The Universal Rules
No matter what plant you have:
- Check soil before watering. Stick your finger an inch in. Moist? Wait. Dry? Water.
- Drainage holes are non-negotiable. Standing water = root rot.
- Match light to plant needs. Wrong light is a slow death.
- Don’t fertilize stressed plants. Fix the problem first, then feed.
- Most plants prefer to dry slightly between waterings — erring toward underwatering is usually safer than overwatering.
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