The number one cause of houseplant death isn't neglect — it's love, applied too often. Here's why overwatering kills and how to stop.

Roots need air

Roots don't just drink — they breathe. Soggy soil fills every air pocket, the roots suffocate, and rot follows. A plant that looks wilted from overwatering looks almost exactly like one that's thirsty, which is how the cycle starts.

The finger test

Stick a finger in to the second knuckle. Dry? Water. Damp? Walk away. It's that boring, and it works.