Go through the level until you get to the sand waterfall. After you pass that part, you will see a door. Enter and blow up the wall with bombs to find many Shy Guys walking on a mound. There are three plants at this location. You will find a POW in one of them. Throw it on the ground, which will destroy all of the Shy Guys and results in an extra life. Leave, then return and repeat to get as many lives as needed.

Go to where the first cactus enemy appears. There should be some vases that you can enter here. Enter the second vase, pick the plant to the left (which is a POW box), and leave the vase with it. Bring it outside and wait until you can see the cactus enemy approaching you. Throw the POW box to get three lives. Then, return to the same vase and repeat to get as many lives as needed.

Find the area with lots of Cobrats in vases. Kill the second Cobrat and enter the vase. At the bottom of the vase are two buried items. The one on the right side is a heart. The other one is a POW block. Pick up the POW block and leave the vase. Avoid the enemy attacks and wait for the Pokey to appear. Throw the POW block to the floor. You should get three or four lives. Repeat this as many times as needed.