Emily Sanchez of Classy Casita

How To Not Kill YouR

Plant
THE WATERING GUIDE TO HELP KEEP YOUR 
HOUSEPLANTS ALIVE
How To Not Kill
YouR Plant
The watering guide to help keep your 
houseplants alive

by Emily Sanchez
Contents
Plants

Action Plant 15 Coleus 15

African Violet 15 Colocasia 16
Agave 09 Creeping Fig 16
Alocasia 15 Croton 16
Aloe 09 Cryptanthus 09
Anchor Plant 09 Daphne 12
Anthurium 15 Dieffenbachia 16
Aralia False 12 Donkey’s Tail 09
Arrowhead Vine 12 Dracaena 09
HOW TO USE YOUR MOISTURE 
Asparagus Fern 09 Dracaena Palm 16
METER
Azalea 15 Dumb Cane 09
Bird of Paradise 09 Echeveria 12 06
Bamboo Plant 12 Euonymus 16
Baby’s Breath 09 Euphorbia 09 HOW TO UNDERSTAND YOUR
Baby Tears 15 Ferns 16 MOISTURE METER
Bay Tree 15 Ficus Audrey 09 07
Begonia 12 Fiddle Leaf Fig 10
Blushing Bride 12 Fingernail Plant 16
WATER WHEN DRY
Bonsai Tree 12 Flaming Sword 10
Buddhist Pine 15 Flamingo Plant 12 (LEVEL 0-3)
Cacti 09 Firecracker Plant 10 09
Caladium 15 Fittonia 13
Calathea 15 Gardenia 16 WATER WHEN MOIST
Calla Lilly 15 Geranium 13 (LEVEL 4-5)
Cast Iron Plant 09 Glory Lily 13
12
Century Plant 09 Gold Dust Plant 10
Ceropegia 12 Hibiscus 10
Chain Cactus 12 Hoya 13 WATER WHEN MOIST
Chinese Evergreen 12 Ivy 13 (LEVEL 6-7)
Christmas Cactus 15 Jade Plant 10 15
Jasmine Plant 10
Lantana 10
Lantern Plant 13
Lipstick Vine 10
Living Vase Plant 13
Money Tree 13
Monstera 13
Orchid 10
Oxalis Triangularis 10
Palm 16
Peace Lilly 13
Peperomia 10
Philodendron 13
Pilea 10
Poinsettia 10
Polka Dot Plant 13
Ponytail Plant 10
Pothos 13 HOW TO USE YOUR 3-IN-1
Prayer Plant 16 METER
Rhaphidophora 19
Tetrasperma 13
Rubber Plant 13
Sensitive Plant 16 SOIL PH LEVELS FOR PLANTS
Snake Plant 11
20
Spider Plant 13
String of Hearts 11
String of Pearls 11
TYPES OF SUN EXPOSURE
Succulents 11
Umbrella Plant 17
22
Temple Bells 16
Tradescantia 13
Zebrina
15 HELPFUL TIPS
Velvet Plant 13 23
Verbena 17
Weeping Fig 13
Zebra Plant 17
ZZ Plant 11
IS THERE  a Plant I MISSED
THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SEE?

SUBMIT ANY PLANT

BY EMAILING ME AT
CLASSYCASITA@GMAIL.COM

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 How to Use  your

moisture meter

1 2 3 4

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3: STEP 4:

Insert the probe vertically Adjust the position Read moisture Remove
into your plant pot. In of the probe until level in the dial probe from
large pots, insert the the pointer on the after the reading soil and
meter to root level. In dial swings slightly. stabilizes. wipe clean
smaller pots, insert the after each
meter about halfway. use.

Tip 1:
Don’t just test the soil once, insert the probe a few times
into different sections of your plant pot for accuracy.

Tip 2:
Never use this meter to test water,
it may damage the sensor.

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How to understand
Your moisture meter
your

Your moisture meter measures the level of wetness

between 1 - 10. Level 1 means very dry, and level
10 means very wet. No plants can tolerate the two
extremes for long, so it is important to often check
on all of your plants.

In the next page you will find a large variety of plants

listed alphabetically by their popular names. Look for
the plant you want to test, and look at the range
listed by that plant.

The range listed by the plant is where you want your

meter to stabilize to confirm your plant is in need of
a good watering. If the meter reads at a higher level
than the range listed, it is too soon to water your
plant.

If the meter reads at the same or lower than the

range listed, then get your watering can ready
because it is time to water your plant!

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 the

moisture meter

08
Water these plants
when dry RANGE
LEVEL (1-3)

AGAVE BIRD OF PARADISE DONKEY’S TAIL

Ready to water at level: 1 Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 3
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 3 DAYS

ALOE CACTI DRACAENA

Ready to water at level: 1 Ready to water at level: 1 Ready to water at level: 3
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

ANCHOR PLANT CAST IRON PLANT DUMB CANE

Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

ASPARAGUS FERN CENTURY PLANT EUPHORBIA

Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

BABY’S BREATH CRYPTANTHUS FICUS AUDREY

Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 1 Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

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FIDDLE LEAF FIG/ LANTANA PEPEROMIA
FICUS LYRATA Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 1
Ready to water at level: 1 TEST EVERY 7 TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
LOVES A GOOD MISTING

LIPSTICK VINE PILEA

FLAMING SWORD Ready to water at level: 3 Ready to water at level: 3

Ready to water at level: 1 TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

ORCHID POINSETTIA
FIRECRACKER
Ready to water at level: 1 Ready to water at level: 3
PLANT
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

OXALIS  PONYTAIL PLANT

GOLD DUST PLANT TRIANGULARIS Ready to water at level: 1
Ready to water at level: 1 Ready to water at level: 3 TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
REDUCE WATERING DURING
DORMANT SEASON
HIBISCUS
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
REDUCE WATERING DURING
DORMANT SEASON

JADE PLANT
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

JASMINE PLANT
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

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SNAKE PLANT
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

STRING OF HEARTS
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

STRING OF PEARLS
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

SUCCULENTS
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

ZZ PLANT
Ready to water at level: 1
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

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Water these plants
when dry RANGE
LEVEL (4-5)

ARALIA FALSE BLUSHING BRIDE CHINESE

Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 4 EVERGREEN
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS Ready to water at level: 4
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

ARROWHEAD VINE BONSAI TREE DAPHNE

Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 5
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

BAMBOO PLANT CEROPEGIA ECHEVERIA

Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 4
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS

BEGONIA CHAIN CACTUS FLAMINGO PLANT

Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 5
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
LOVES HUMIDITY

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FITTONIA MONEY TREE RHAPHIDOPHORA
Ready to water at level: 5 Ready to water at level: 4 TETRASPERMA
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS Ready to water at level: 4
IF THE PLANT BEGINS TO LOVES A GOOD MISTING TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
WILT, IT IS TIME TO BE
WATERED
MONSTERA  RUBBER PLANT
DELICIOSA Ready to water at level: 4
GERANIUM
Ready to water at level: 4 TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
Ready to water at level: 5
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS LOVES A GOOD MISTING
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
LOVES A GOOD MISTING

GLORY LILY SPIDER PLANT

Ready to water at level: 4 PEACE LILY Ready to water at level: 4
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS Ready to water at level: 4 TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
HOYA
TRADESCANTIA
Ready to water at level: 4
PHILODENDRON ZEBRINA
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 5
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

IVY
Ready to water at level: 4
POLKA DOT PLANT VELVET PLANT
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
Ready to water at level: 5 Ready to water at level: 5
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
LANTERN PLANT
IF THE PLANT BEGINS TO IF THE PLANT BEGINS TO
Ready to water at level: 5
WILT, IT IS TIME TO BE WILT, IT IS TIME TO BE
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS
WATERED WATERED

LIVING VASE
PLANT POTHOS WEEPING FIG
Ready to water at level: 5 Ready to water at level: 4 Ready to water at level: 4
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

13
note

TO SELF
DON’T WATER PLANTS
AT WET LEVEL 8-10

14
Water these plants
when dry RANGE
LEVEL (6-7)

ACTION PLANT AZALEA CALATHEA

Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY
BABY TEARS
AFRICAN VIOLET Ready to water at level: 6 CALLA LILY
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS Ready to water at level: 6
Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 3 DAYS
TEST EVERY 3 DAYS
BAY TREE REDUCE WATERING DURING
Ready to water at level: 6 DORMANT SEASON
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
ALOCASIA
CHRISTMAS
Ready to water at level: 6 BUDDHIST PINE CACTUS
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 3 DAYS
REDUCE WATERING DURING

CALADIUM DORMANT SEASON

ANTHURIUM Ready to water at level: 6

Ready to water at level: 6 TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS COLEUS
TEST EVERY 3 DAYS KEEP SOIL MOIST BUT NEVER Ready to water at level: 6
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY SOGGY TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

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CREEPING FIG GARDENIA SENSITIVE PLANT
Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 3 DAYS
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY

COLOCASIA FINGERNAIL PLANT TEMPLE BELLS

Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 7 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY

CROTON PALM
Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

DIEFFENBACHIA PRAYER PLANT

Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY

DRACAENA PALM
Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

EUONYMUS
Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

FERNS
Ready to water at level: 6
TEST EVERY 3 DAYS
SPRAY FOLIAGE DAILY

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VERBENA ZEBRA PLANT
Ready to water at level: 6 Ready to water at level: 6

TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS TEST EVERY 4-5 DAYS

REDUCE WATERING DURING
DORMANT SEASON

UMBRELLA PLANT
Ready to water at level: 7
TEST EVERY 3 DAYS

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the

3-in-1 meter

18
 How to Use  your

3-in-1 meter

1 2 3

STEP 1: STEP 2: STEP 3:

Insert the sensor Adjust the switch Remove probes
probes into soil to test and measure from soil and wipe
about 2-4 inches soil moisture, pH- clean after each
value, or sunlight. use.

Tip 1:
Never use this to test water, it may damage the sensors.

Tip 2:
Cannot test pH value of any other liquid.

Tip 3:
If the soil is too dry, the indicator will not move.

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 SOIL PH LEVELS
for plants

Common Name Optimum pH Range Common Name Optimum pH Range

Trees and Shrubs Trees and Shrubs

Apple 5.0-6.5 Plum 6.0-8.0
Ash 6.0-7.5 Raspberry, red 5.5-7.0
Azalea 4.5-6.0 Rhododendron 4.5-6.0
Basswood 6.0-7.5 Spruce 5.0-6.0
Beautybush 6.0-7.5 Walnut, black 6.0-8.0
Birch 5.0-6.5 Willow 6.0-8.0
Blackberry 5.0-6.0
Blueberry 4.0-6.0
Boxwood 6.0-7.5 Vegetables
Cherry, sour 6.0-7.5 Asparagus 6.0-8.0
Azalea 6.0-7.0 Bean, pole 6.0-7.5
Chestnut 5.0-6.5 Beet 6.0-7.5
Crab apple 6.0-7.5 Broccoli 6.0-7.0
Dogwood 5.0-7.0 Brussels sprout 6.0-7.5
Elder, box 6.0-8.0 Cabbage 6.0-7.0
Fir, balsam 5.0-6.0 Carrot 5.5-7.0
Fir, Douglas 6.0-7.0 Cauliflower 5.5-7.5
Hemlock 5.0-6.0 Celery 5.8-7.0
Hydrangea, blue-flowered 4.0-5.0 Chive 6.0-7.0
Hydrangea, pink-flowered 6.0-7.0 Cucumber 5.5-7.0
Juniper 5.0-6.0 Garlic 5.5-8.0
Laurel, mountain 4.5-6.0 Kale 6.0-7.5
Lemon 6.0-7.5 Lettuce 6.0-7.0
Lilac 6.0-7.5 Pea, sweet 6.0-7.5
Maple, sugar 6.0-7.5 Pepper, sweet 5.5-7.0
Oak, white 5.0-6.5 Potato 4.8-6.5
Orange 6.0-7.5 Pumpkin 5.5-7.5
Peach 6.0-7.0 Radish 6.0-7.0
Pear 6.0-7.5 Spinach 6.0-7.5
Pecan 6.4-8.0 Squash, crookneck 6.0-7.5
Pine, red 5.0-6.0 Squash, Hubbard 5.5-7.0
Pine, white 4.5-6.0 Tomato 5.5-7.5

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 SOIL PH LEVELS
for plants

Common Name Optimum pH Range Common Name Optimum pH Range

Flowers Flowers
Alyssum 6.0-7.5 Narcissus, trumpet 5.5-6.5
Aster, New England 6.0-8.0 Nasturtium 5.5-7.5
Baby’s breath 6.0-7.0 Pansy 5.5-6.5
Bachelor’s button 6.0-7.5 Peony 6.0-7.5
Bee balm 6.0-7.5 Petunia 5.5-6.0
Begonia 5.5-7.0 Phlox, summer 6.0-8.0
Black-eyed Susan 5.5-7.0 Poppy, oriental 6.0-7.5
Bleeding heart 6.0-7.5 Rose, hybrid tea 5.5-7.0
Canna 6.0-8.0 Rose, rugosa 6.0-7.0
Carnation 6.0-7.0 Snapdragon 5.5-7.0
Chrysanthemum 6.0-7.5 Sunflower 6.0-7.5
Clematis 5.5-7.0 Tulip 6.0-7.0
Coleus 6.0-7.0 Zinnia 5.5-7.0
Coneflower, purple 5.0-7.5
Cosmos 5.0-8.0
Crocus 6.0-8.0
Daffodil 6.0-6.5
Dahlia 6.0-7.5
Daisy, Shasta 6.0-8.0
Daylily 6.0-8.0
Delphinium 6.0-7.5
Foxglove 6.0-7.5
Geranium 6.0-8.0
Gladiolus 5.0-7.0
Hibiscus 6.0-8.0
Hollyhock 6.0-8.0
Hyacinth 6.5-7.5
Iris, blue flag 5.0-7.5
Lily-of-the-valley 4.5-6.0
Lupine 5.0-6.5
Marigold 5.5-7.5
Morning glory 6.0-7.5

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TYPES OF
SUN EXPOSURE

Here are the terms used to classify the amount

of sun your plants need in order to thrive.

Full Sun
Full sun plants require 6 or more hours of direct sunlight each day.

Partial Sun
Partial sun plants need 3 to 6 hours of sunlight every day, with partial sun plants needing closer
to 6 hours on that spectrum.

Partial Shade
Partial shade plants need a bit less sunlight exposure compared to partial sun plants, so about 3
hours a day. They also need protection from the intense afternoon sun. Quick Tip: Create some
shade during harsh hours by using shade cloths/umbrellas.

Full Shade
Full shade plants still require some sunlight; however, they typically need less than 3 hours a day.
An area that is perfect for full shade plants would be where you notice your garden is only
receiving early morning sunlight.

Dappled Sun
Dappled sun plants can also be described as plants that prefer filtered sunlight. For example, the
bit of sun exposure you receive through trees and bushes.

22
 15
helpful

tips
01
Never let a plant sit in water for too long. If you place your plant directly back into a decorative
pot after watering, be sure to discard any water that goes through the drainage holes. 

If you have a plant that is extremely dry and is tough to water from the top, try bottom

02
watering it. You just need a small bucket or container with a couple of inches of water, then
place the plant on top to absorb it until your plant is evenly watered.

Remember that it is always better to underwater than to overwater your plant. Overwatering

03
will KILL them but you can always bring them back to a happy state if you underwater.

If your plant is looking a little sad, they are letting you know they are thirsty!

04
Make sure to remove any dead leaves you see on your plant. This will allow more healthier
growth because your plant is not wasting energy on any of the unhealthy ones.

05
Remember that as long as you have proper drainage, it doesn’t matter how much water you
use when watering. You always want to make sure that your plant is being evenly watered, so

06
that can sometimes mean using more water than you think. As long as you have proper
drainage, there is no need to worry! 

If you have tropical plants, you should bump up the humidity! Use a humidifier, pebble trays,
put them close to other plants, or try misting your plants.

07
23
08
If you are misting your plant to increase humidity, be sure to use a very fine mister and spray
upwards so that large droplets do not land on the leaves. If they do, try your best to wipe
them off or that you have proper air circulation at home to help them dry off quicker. 

09
Smaller pots dry up faster than larger pots, so be sure to check those smaller plants more
frequently.

10
The more light you give your plant, the faster it will dry out and more frequent it will need
watering. The less light you give it, the slower it will dry and less frequent it will need
watering.

Spring is the best time to repot your houseplants. Remember to only repot if you notice roots

11
coming out of the drainage holes or you notice that it is root bound. When you do repot, only
go up 1-2 inches bigger than the current pot it’s in. 

Remember that in the hotter seasons, your plants will be a lot thirstier than in the colder

12
seasons. Be sure to check in with them more frequently in the spring and summer. 

If you notice your plant is getting a bit dusty, try your best to wipe them down so the leaves

13
can breathe. Dust on leaves will block sunlight and reduce the ability to photosynthesize. 

If you can, try watering your plants in your sink or bathtub to make sure water is properly

14
going through the drainage holes. Plus this will help you keep your home from getting messy!

Remember that your plant loves you just as much as you love them!

15

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@classycasita

Want more?
www.classycasita.com

classycasita@gmail.com

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