Dying houseplants can be avoided by purchasing healthy plants from reliable sources. Look over your plants for symptoms to determine what aspect of care needs to change.
Look at the area directly beneath your plant if you notice tiny spots on leaves. Touch the area to test for any stickiness. This indicates an aphid or scale problem. Aphids and scales are sucking bugs that feed on inner plant tissue fluid. As these pests feed, they excrete a sticky-sweet substance called honeydew.
Prune away and destroy severely affected plant parts and treat your plant with a chemical insecticide, fungicide or bactericide only at the suggestion of your extension agent.
Expose your house plant to its necessary light requirement but be careful with plants needing full sun exposure. Full sun does not mean direct sunlight. Place these house plants in south facing windows or filter sunlight with a curtain, suggests University of Missouri Extension.