Likely a sun or water problem. Sun: Are you placing it where it gets enough sunlight? For things like herbs and small veggies, they really need direct sun (streaming thru windows sun beams, not just ambient light radiating in from the alley window). Water: Use a saucer under the pot and water from the saucer to stimulate root growth and avoid over-watering. (Make sure you're using an unglazed terra cotta pot or one with holes so the soil and saucer are in contact allowing the water to wick into the soil and roots.) If you're potting them yourself, use good potting soil, not just yard dirt.

as much as it pains me to say this, there are some lovely artificial ones out there! I was given 2 cyclamens over christmas & told only to put a little water in the dish they stand in aaarrrggghhh - 1 is now in the bin & the other is heading that way! I have some tough tall plants I've had for 20+ years that need little looking after so maybe you should google something like ' houseplants that need little looking after' and only buy them! :) xxx

It's better to under-water rather than over-water. I find that when I treat a house-plant with lots of TLC it doesn't thrive as well as when it gets a (reasonably small) dose of neglect!