Misconceptions - Any Plant, Any Place

Here's an extremely common misconception. But it's common only among people who lack even the most basic knowledge of gardening. They believe that any plant can simply be plunked into any soil, anywhere and expected to grow well and become beautiful. nothing could be further from the truth.

The fact is that every plant came from somewhere in the world. The place each plant originates has a specific type of soil. The composition of that soil meant it has a certain pH range. The soil also has a characteristic drainage, and an abundance of some nutrients and shortages of others. In that location, the light was specific as were the seasons, or lack therof. The plant evolved under these conditions and may be highly adapted to them.Or it may be tolerant of a wide variety of similar conditions. But no plant is tolerant of all conditions.

Usually plants that evolve in a dry situation, such as around the Mediterrean, do not tolerate very moist conditions for very long. A plant that has evolved as an understory plant, meaning that it lives in the shade of taller plants, does not do well in a full sun situation.

To place the plant in a situation far different than what it evolved in and adapted to, is asking the plant to fail. It's not the fault of the plant. The plant cannot change what it is. You cannot place a cheetah in a pasture expecting it to eat grass instead of meat.