A friend keeps killing every houseplant they buy. What advice would you give them?

A natural way to answer

I'd suggest they begin with one low-maintenance plant and learn its needs before buying more. The biggest mistake is overwatering, so I'd tell them to check the soil first and only water when it's dry.

Key phrases to use

• drown a plant — to give a plant far too much water so it suffers or dies“Beginners often drown their plants out of kindness.”
• fuss over — to give too much attention and care to something or someone“Stop fussing over it and let it settle.”