Different light needs?

[Ray]

Originally Posted by Dimples

Ray - they would be growing in similar conditions in the wild, but the successfully established seedlings of most plants will be growing under or next to larger plants present in the habitat, so may not receive the same light intensity as the parent plant until they get older/bigger and are no longer shaded by the surrounding plants.

Possibly, but if you consider the dust-like qualities of orchid seed, who's to say where they end up!

[Dimples]

Originally Posted by Ray

Possibly, but if you consider the dust-like qualities of orchid seed, who's to say where they end up!

Very true, but if they end up germinating in a highly exposed location, perennial seedlings are far less likely to survive to maturity unless environmental conditions are perfect or near-perfect for the first few years. It's much easier for a tiny to mid-sized, wild sown, perennial seedling to survive heatwaves, droughts, or unusually cold temps (compared to what the species is adapted to) when surrounded by larger plants of any type to buffer the extremes.

Annual plants are a different story. They'll grow and set seeds anywhere they land. I haven't had to plant or tend cilantro, nasturtium, calendula, sunflowers, or dill in years! LOL