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Free Printable Houseplant Care Chart (PDF) — 16 Common Plants
| Plant | Water every | Light | Humidity | Feed (spring–summer) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pothos | 10 days | Low to bright indirect | Average | Monthly, half strength | Yellow leaves = too wet |
| Monstera | 10 days | Bright indirect | High preferred | Monthly, half strength | Let top 2 in. dry |
| Fiddle leaf fig | 10 days | Bright indirect | Average | Monthly, half strength | Hates drafts and moves |
| Snake plant | 14 days | Low to bright | Low is fine | 2–3× per season | Dry out fully |
How to read the chart
The watering intervals are the ones PlantLog uses to suggest a reminder when you type a plant name, and the same numbers power the houseplant watering calculator on this site. They assume average indoor conditions — roughly 65 to 75°F and moderate humidity — and a pot with drainage. Treat each interval as the day to check the soil, not the day to water no matter what.
Feeding notes are deliberately conservative. Diluted fertilizer once a month during active growth suits most tropical foliage; drought-tolerant plants need far less. Follow the product label and, when in doubt, feed less. Skip feeding in winter unless the plant is clearly growing under a grow light.
Light levels, in plain terms
Light is the column people most often guess wrong. These descriptions assume an unobstructed window.
| Chart says | Typical spot | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Low light | North window, or 6–10 ft from an east or west window; interior rooms with a lamp | You can read comfortably but the room looks dim in photos; no direct sun ever hits the leaves |
| Bright indirect | Within a few feet of an east or west window; a south window behind a sheer curtain | The plant casts a soft, blurry shadow; sun does not land directly on it for more than an hour |
| Direct sun / some sun | Right in a south or west window | Sharp-edged shadows; the plant gets several hours of sun on its leaves |
Most 'low light' plants merely tolerate it. They grow faster and stay fuller in bright indirect light.
How to use this sheet
- Print the PDF and keep it with your watering can or taped inside a cupboard door.
- Cross out plants you do not own; add any missing ones in the blank rows using the houseplant watering calculator for an interval.
- Move each plant to the light the chart calls for, or note in the margin why it stays where it is.
- Use the Water every column as the day to check the soil, and adjust the number in pencil once you know how fast your pots dry.
- In autumn, write the winter interval beside the summer one — most plants stretch out by a week or more.
Questions
Is this sheet really free?
Yes. The PDF is free to download and print — no sign-up, no email, no watermark.
Where do the watering intervals come from?
From the care guide built into PlantLog, which suggests a schedule when you add a plant by name. The same table is on the houseplant watering calculator page, where you can turn an interval into actual dates.
My plant is not on the chart. What do I use?
Find its closest relative or growth type: trailing aroids behave like pothos, thick-leaved plants like snake plant, thin-leaved tropicals like calathea. Start there and adjust from the soil.
Does the chart apply to outdoor or balcony plants?
No. Outdoor pots dry out far faster in sun and wind, often daily in summer. The chart is for plants kept indoors year round.
Is there an app version?
Yes — PlantLog for iPhone tracks watering, fertilizing, and repotting per plant with reminders, so the schedule maintains itself. Core is free, no account needed, and your data stays on your device.
Want the log to analyze itself?
PlantLog for iPhone tracks the same things in seconds and shows you the patterns — free core, no account, and everything stays on your device.