From our perspective, water is a constant negotiation. Our roots need to breathe just as much as they need to drink. If the soil around us is heavy, compacted clay, or if we were planted in a low spot without proper drainage, every rainstorm creates a swamp. Our roots suffocate in these waterlogged conditions, unable to take up nutrients or function, leading to rot and a complete halt in growth. Conversely, being placed in overly sandy soil or under the thirsty eaves of a house where rain doesn't reach means we are perpetually parched. Without consistent moisture, our large leaves cannot unfurl, and our growth is stunted as we simply try to survive.
While we are not gluttons, we do require a steady supply of nutrients to produce our expansive foliage. If planted in poor, depleted soil that hasn't been amended with organic matter, we have nothing to draw from. A lack of nitrogen, in particular, means we cannot produce the chlorophyll and plant proteins needed to grow. Furthermore, an extreme imbalance in soil pH can lock away the nutrients that are present. We generally prefer a slightly acidic to neutral soil. If the pH is too high (alkaline), key minerals like iron become unavailable, leading to chlorosis—yellow leaves with green veins—which severely limits our ability to photosynthesize and grow.
You humans often misread our sun tolerance. While some of our kin can handle more sun, most of us are understory plants by nature. We thrive in dappled sunlight or gentle morning sun with afternoon shade. If planted in a location with intense, full afternoon sun, our leaves will scorch, bleach, and burn. We expend all our energy trying to repair this damage rather than on new growth. On the other hand, planting us in deep, full shade can be just as detrimental, limiting the energy we can produce through photosynthesis. Additionally, if you plant us too close to a large, established tree or aggressive shrub, we are forced into a brutal competition for water and nutrients, and we will almost always lose.
Our succulent leaves and roots are a favorite meal for a host of garden pests. Slugs and snails are our arch-nemeses, chewing ragged holes in our leaves and even devouring tender new shoots before you ever see them. A severe infestation can decimate us, leaving no energy for growth. Below the soil, voles may be feasting on our juicy root systems and crowns, severing our connection to the soil and causing sudden wilting and die-back. Diseases like crown rot or fungal leaf spot can also weaken us significantly, destroying our vascular systems or foliage and redirecting all our energy into a fight for survival rather than expansion.
Finally, sometimes your concern is premature. If we were just planted or divided and transplanted, our focus is entirely underground. We must first establish a strong new root system to support top growth. This process can take an entire growing season, making it appear as if we are not growing at all. Furthermore, remember our natural cycle: we emerge gloriously in spring, flourish through early summer, and often enter a summer slump during the hottest weeks, conserving energy. Our growth naturally slows or pauses during this time before often resuming with cooler autumn temperatures and rains.
