Not sure whether more relevant to the gardening section, but posting here for traffic, although no one is unreasonable here (hopefully).
Threw away a couple of dead orchids today. No matter what I do to the little buggers, they die. Same with citrus trees, potted flowers... pretty much all houseplants. There was an amazing ficus plant someone gave me for my birthday that seemed to thrive against my best efforts, but I found the reason when attempting to repot it, proudly thinking it probably got too big now - it was fake, just very very well made.
I read books on the topic, browsed hundreds of websites, bought additional special grow-lighting (don't know what people must think - it probably looks like a cannabis farm from outside). Not a slightest difference.
Meanwhile, one of my friends grows amazing fruiting lemon trees from lemon seeds, and pineapple palms from the supermarket pineapple tops. Every plant in her care seems to turn into a jurassic version of itself. She swears there's no secret and she never reads instructions or waters on a calendar - she just instinctively feels when she needs to water / feed /replant, and that's all. She is very generous with sharing cuttings / offshoots from her home jungle, but when I ask for instructions, she has no clue other than "stick it in the soil and wait, don't forget to water". 
So my question. Do you think one can become green-fingered through study and self-improvement? Because I am inclined to believe now it must be a natural talent, and I am simply beyond any help.