Surprisingly, overwatering is more often a problem than underwatering in hampering this growth. Too much water applied too often means the soil will stay saturated for long periods, causing the roots imbedded in the waterlogged soil to begin to rot and die. If the soil is kept saturated with water, it contains no air so the roots can't function and eventually rot.
Some plants are exceptionally susceptible to damages cause by overwatering.
However, even plants that generally prefer moist soil can get too much water and suffer damage. Using pots with drainage holes in the bottom is the first step in avoiding watering problems. There are a variety of watering methods, all of which have an effect on the amount of water the plant receives. There are some plants affected more drastically by the watering method than others - cyclamen and African violets are sensitive to water in their crowns and on their leaves and fare better when watered from below. When watering from above, the water should be added until some comes out the drainage hole.