Did you know a cactus could droop?

All you have to do is not kill it.

Habitual plant abusers, heres where we go wrong.

The plant is drooping, and it looks a little yellowish brown.

(Or is that brownish yellow?)

Discoloration is often a sign of overwatering.

The problem is, its also a sign ofunderwatering.

So how do you know if youre watering a plant too little or too much?

Here are some symptoms unique to both conditions,based on info from HomeGuidesandJain, an irrigation company.

If you cant get the hang of it, tech can help.

You could alsouse a digital sensorto tell you when the soil is dry.

Lighting should be an obvious onethe requirements are right there on the plants tag.

(And if there is no tag, you could look up the requirementsusing this online database).

It can be confusing, though.

Some plants require low light, but what exactly does that mean?

How low is too low?

East windows are perfect for most low to medium light requirements that smaller, table-top plants prefer.

The sun is much less intense in this orientation.

North windows limit wise choices to a small selection of house plants.

In general, flowering plants, like african violets or orchids struggle to survive in any north facing window.

If you have a darker home,consider these plants, which do well in low light.

In fact,heres an entire flowchartto help you pick the right plants based on your lighting environment.

Finally, humidity is a factor when watering a plant, too.

Look up the requirements for your specific greenery using a search tool likeGarden.orgs Plants Database.

Youre shocking them

Change can be tough on any of us, and plants are no exception.

AsGardening Know How explains, preventing transplant shock begins with the roots.

Handle the root ball gently when transplanting and bring up as many of the roots as possible.

Picking the right soil can get complicated, especially if youre into gardening and raising fruiting plants.

Container potting soil should be light and fluffy.

For containers, just use a regular potting mix.

Look for a bag that says Soilless potting mix.

Beyond the basics, there are some other factors to consider.

Here are theideal pH levels for some common houseplants.

Most plants thrive in the 6.0-7.0 range,according to The Old Farmers Almanac.

Soil weight:Soil is typically classified by how dense it is: light, medium, or heavy.

Light soil works well for hanging plants or plants in indirect sunlight or shade.

Heavy soils are typically used for outdoor plants, gardens, and trees.

Organic versus nonorganic: As HomeGuides explains, organic potting mixes provide nutrients for plants over time.

As their organic materials break down, they release nutrients.

Nonorganic soil, on the other hand, contains enough fertilizer for a single season.

After that, youmightwant to consider adding your own plant fertilizer.

Fertilizer: Speaking of fertilizer, it can be tricky.

This way, you’re able to pick up on early signs of suffering.

I envy my green-thumbed friends who seem to have an intuitive sense for how to help plants thrive.

The rest of us can use these steps to troubleshoot the problem.