How can ‘over-potting’ be a thing when plants grow straight from the Earth’s surface with infinite amounts of soil available?
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>LI5: How can ‘over-potting’ be a thing when plants grow straight from the Earth’s surface with infinite amounts of soil available?
Because there isn’t “infinite soil” available. Many plants are specialized to grow in very thin, nutrient-poor soils and will rot or suffer other ill-effects in soil they’re not adapted for.
A lot of people kill Blueberries for example (a plant that grows on thin, sandy soil or even nearly bare rock) by planting them in a rich, nutrient-rich soil. They grow on barrens with pines and oaks similarly adapted for that habitat.
Moisture has a profound effect too, a big pot full of spongy soil will hold onto a lot more water than a plant can use and will cause root rot. I grow cacti in the Northeast were it is very humid and I have to keep even large cacti in comparatively tiny pots to ensure they dry out as quick as possible.
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