From the Plant Story database
Houseplant Care Schedule & Checklist
How often to water, feed, prune, and repot common houseplants.
The recurring care a houseplant actually needs — watering rhythm, feeding, grooming, pest checks, and repotting — with how often and what (if anything) it costs. A simple starting schedule you can adjust to your light and home.
Browse by plant
Fertilizing
| Task | How often | Est. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fertilize DIY | Monthly | $0–15 | Feed monthly during spring-summer growth with diluted balanced fertilizer; pause in winter. |
| Fertilize DIY | Every 2 mo | $0–15 | Light feeding every couple of months in the growing season; succulents and cacti need very little. |
Grooming
| Task | How often | Est. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mist / Humidity Check DIY | Every 3 days | Free / DIY | Mist or check humidity every few days; tropicals and ferns suffer in dry indoor air. |
| Rotate for Even Light DIY | Every 2 weeks | Free / DIY | Quarter-turn every couple of weeks so the plant grows evenly toward the light. |
| Dust / Wipe Leaves DIY | Monthly | Free / DIY | Wipe dust off broad leaves monthly so they can photosynthesize and breathe. |
Pest
| Task | How often | Est. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pest Inspection DIY | Every 2 weeks | $0–10 | Check leaf undersides and stems for spider mites, mealybugs, and gnats — early catches are easy to treat. |
Pruning
| Task | How often | Est. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prune & Deadhead DIY | Every 2 mo | $0–10 | Trim dead or leggy growth; deadhead spent blooms to encourage more. |
| Remove Dead Growth DIY | Every 6 mo | Free / DIY | Pull off shriveled lower leaves and spent stems every so often. |
Repotting
| Task | How often | Est. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Repot / Refresh Soil DIY | Every 18 mo | $10–30 | Move up a pot size or refresh the soil every 12-24 months as the roots fill in. |
| Repot / Refresh Soil DIY | Every 30 mo | $10–30 | Slow growers — repot every 2-3 years into a fast-draining mix. |
Watering
| Task | How often | Est. cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Water DIY | Every 4 days | Free / DIY | Ferns like consistently moist soil — check every few days and never let them dry out. |
| Water DIY | Every 6 days | Free / DIY | Water when the top inch is dry, about every 5-7 days; flowering plants are thirsty in bloom. |
| Water DIY | Weekly | Free / DIY | Keep lightly moist — water about weekly when the top inch of soil dries out. |
| Water DIY | Every 18 days | Free / DIY | Soak only when the soil is fully dry — about every 2-3 weeks. Overwatering is the top killer of succulents. |
| Water DIY | Every 24 days | Free / DIY | Water sparingly when bone-dry — roughly every 3-4 weeks in the growing season, far less in winter. |
Common questions
How much does houseplant upkeep cost per year?
Budget roughly $10–$230 a year across 15 recurring tasks at typical U.S. prices. 15 of the 15 are things most people can do themselves, which pulls the real number toward the low end.
What houseplant maintenance can I do myself?
15 of the 15 tasks here are marked DIY — routine, low-cost jobs that don't need a pro. The rest are worth booking out. Each row below notes which is which.
Intervals and costs are typical-case estimates for U.S. households; your climate, usage, and local prices will shift them. Information here is general and may be estimated or AI-assisted — not professional, medical, or veterinary advice. Verify against your owner's manual, a professional, or your vet before acting. See our Terms & Disclaimer.