I’m a black thumb: I kill plants.  Here are the various ways plants have died by my hands.

• Forgetting to water them.  This has happened too many times to count.  I just don’t remember to water plants often enough.  There’s only so many times they can shrivel up and be revived again with a watering binge.
• Watering them too much.  I’ve done this a bunch of times: the baby tree in the backyard, the tiny potted cactus, and others.  Although you wouldn’t think so, over-watering is apparently a frequent cause of death for house plants.  If you know anything about cactus care, phalaenopsis care, or cymbidium care, you know that there are many plants that actually shouldn’t be watered that often.
• Not giving them enough sunlight.  I’m constantly forgetting to put my house plants in the sun.  Like with orchid care, not all plants like direct, full-on sunlight, but most need at least some amount…or so I’ve found.
• Leaving them where the cats can eat them.  I’m dead serious.  I had a cat once that loved to snack on our azalea — never mind that they are supposed to be poisonous.  Never seemed to bother him any, though!

There are no doubt lots of ways to kill a house plant, but these are just some of the ways I’ve found.

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