The scenario everyone dreads is that you get a plant (at the store, or through a gift) and it's all lush and green and growing, and you bring it home and start tending to it and it just withers and turns yellow and then brown and then dies. When that happens (and it happens to everyone) there are a few simple things to look at and check for.
Firstly, the pot. All pots should have drainage holes in the bottom where water can flow out, and a tray or something to catch the excess water. A beginner shouldn't try to plant anything in a container without holes. So when you get a new plant, look at the bottom where the holes are. Ideally, you won't see any roots when you look into the soil. If you see some roots there in the dirt, you should consider repotting. If you see a dense mass of roots coming out of the holes in the bottom, the plant is in trouble and desperately needs repotting.
If you have houseplants that are doing well and growing, check the bottom for roots every six months or year or so- anticipate going up a pot size every year. One way or another, you'll have to repot a plant. Get a new pot that is larger than the previous one, and some new potting soil from the store (don't use dirt from outside somewhere). If you only have some visible roots, then you only need to go up a size or two (pots are measured in inches- small ones from the store might be in 2" or 3" pots). If you have a serious situation, then you may need a pot that is even bigger than that.
There are a bunch of videos online about how to repot, but basically you want to be gentle with the stem and taproot area, so turn the plant on it's side and gently work it out of the old pot. If a plant is really rootbound, this can be more difficult- don't be afraid to bang on the bottom of the pot to loosen the roots up- loosening up the roots is good for the plant. Put an inch or two of new dirt in the bottom of the new pot, and then place the plant in the new pot. You want to keep it buried to consistently the same depth, so that the stem isn't planted any deeper or shallower than it was before, so adjust the amount of dirt in the bottom of the new pot accordingly. "Plant it high, it won't die. Plant it low, it won't grow". Then fill in new dirt around the edges, compacting it gently with your hand, and then thoroughly water the whole thing. Voila!
Secondly, water. Water is easy- most people kill plants by overwatering them. The rule of thumb is to water once a week, until water comes out of the drainage holes in the bottom of the pot. If it's really hot, then maybe do a second watering in a week. So in summer, water more, in winter, water less.
Finally, light. Light is harder because you can't control whether your living room faces north or whatever- it's trickiest to troubleshoot and harder to control. Most plants like lots of indirect light, so by default, don't place a plant right in a window in the hot sun, and likewise don't place them in a darkened room.
So those are the basics. There are a lot of houseplants you can keep alive using those basic strategies.
Here are some tips for troubleshooting:
There shouldn't be any bugs or bug webs or mold or mildew or anything gross on your plant. If you see anything moving on the foliage or in the soil, immediately isolate the plant from any other plants you have. Mold and mildew are often signs of overwatering, so don't water the plant for a few weeks. You can also go to a nursery and describe your symptoms and they can recommend pesticides or whatever for you.
Plant is weak and wilty. You're probably overwatering- lay off the water for a couple weeks and see if it perks up any.
Plant is dry and crispy. Not enough water, or too much sunlight. I would move it out of the light and give it a good drink of water.
The most frustrating thing, though, is what I'll call failure to thrive- you water more or less, move the plant around where there is more or less light, and it's still looking more and more sickly... sometimes there's just nothing you can do except give the plant to someone you know who does better with plants than you do.
Finally, here are some plants that are easy for beginners to grow, and species-specific tips for care:
Spider plants.
Spider plants are easy to care for, they don't like much water (which means don't water as often, or don't water until water comes out of the drainage holes, thereby just giving less water), and they produce fresh indoor air. They are safe for pets to eat, highly tolerant of lighting conditions (although they don't like direct sun), and you put them in a good-size pot (say, 6" or 8") and then never repot them, so that they will "spider". When they become rootbound, they produce shoots that can be used to make new plants, or just left to look pretty until they turn brown and can be cut off. Here's a spider plant that has "spidered" a bunch of new shoots. Snake plant.
Snake plants produce a ton of fresh air and are super easy to care for. They don't like much water, and they don't like direct light, and that's it. In the winter, they only need to be watered every 6-8 weeks. If the leaves start looking weak and soggy, it's being overwatered, and if they look dry and wrinkly, then water more.If you're buying a plant, don't buy a plant labeled "3in indoor foliage $1.99". Go ahead and buy plants with the labels stuck in the soil that tells you the species name, because it generally comes with tips for care, or at least empowers you to google it and find out how to care for it or diagnose any problems that may arise.
This is a lot of words to describe something I claim is easy, but it really is- with good light, a moderate amount of water, and a little bit of attention, you can have a more peaceful, healthy, harmonious home.
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