I have an obsession with plants. I currently own around 12. I have semi adopted my boyfriend's plants due to their need of care. He likes them, he just sometimes forgets about them.
Forgetting about our little green friends is probably the number one reason house plants die. They don't yell, make noise, piss on the carpet, or cause ruckus. They also do not get excited when you come home, or walk up to you begging for a treat. Plants don't grab your attention unless they are dying, or you enjoy their quiet beauty. A couple of weeks of ignorance leads to shedding of non-vital parts. Leaves wither away and land on your carpet where they are crunched into tiny pieces that are very difficult to pick up. This is normally the point where most people say to themselves "Damn, I forgot to water the plants. . . I wonder if the other plants are ok?" Then run around the house providing the plants in the area with a much needed drink. I myself am prone to this scenario. It isn't because I don't look at my plants, it is because I sometimes don't look closely.
