difficult to cultivate

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "difficult to cultivate" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when describing something that requires significant effort, skill, or resources to grow or develop, such as plants, skills, or relationships. Example: "Some rare plant species are particularly difficult to cultivate, requiring specific environmental conditions and care."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Academia

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Pathogenic bacteria that are difficult to cultivate or identify by cultivation should not be underestimated.

Emerging Infectious Diseases

They are very difficult to cultivate, and their molecular phylogeny has been studied without cultivation [ 5- 15].

BMC Evolutionary Biology

Glacial till soils are generally difficult to cultivate and thus unsuitable for cropping, so the most important cultivated land areas in this region are alluvial soils along river valleys and the shores of major lakes.

Pastoralism: Research, Policy and Practice

It is difficult to cultivate this, but not impossible.

University of California, Berkeley

The plants are considered edible and have a hot pungent flavour but are difficult to cultivate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

The saprophytes are difficult to cultivate and are poorly represented by herbarium specimens.

Encyclopedia Britannica

They are usually poor growing soils, low in nutrients and humus and difficult to cultivate.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Difficult to cultivate in low elevations, they quickly expire if trapped by high heat.

The New York Times

Despite their resilience in the wild, jellyfish are notoriously difficult to cultivate.

Harvard University

These cells serve as models for cells that are either difficult to cultivate or have a limited lifespan in vitro.

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications

It was not difficult to cultivate a love of snow and winter sports among the local population here.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "difficult to cultivate", consider the specific reason for the difficulty. Is it due to environmental factors, inherent properties, or external influences? Specifying the cause can add precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "difficult to cultivate" as a vague statement. Instead of saying "The project was difficult to cultivate", specify what made it challenging, such as "The project was "difficult to cultivate" due to limited resources and tight deadlines".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "difficult to cultivate" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun (implicit or explicit) to describe something that presents challenges in growing, developing, or fostering it. Ludwig AI confirms its usability as a descriptor of something needing significant effort.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

54%

News & Media

27%

Academia

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

7%

Wiki

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "difficult to cultivate" is a versatile descriptor used across numerous contexts to indicate something that presents challenges in growth or development. As Ludwig AI points out, the phrase is grammatically sound and commonly employed. The phrase is prevalent in scientific, news, and academic sources, indicating a spectrum from neutral to formal usage. When deploying this phrase, it is important to specify the source of such difficulty. Whether describing a finicky plant, a delicate relationship, or a complex skill, "difficult to cultivate" succinctly conveys the need for careful attention and specialized conditions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

hard to grow

Focuses specifically on the challenge of growing something, often in a literal sense.

challenging to develop

Highlights the demanding nature of developing something, applicable to skills, relationships, or projects.

laborious to nurture

Emphasizes the effort and care required to nurture something to maturity.

problematic to foster

Indicates potential issues or obstacles in fostering growth or development.

tricky to propagate

Highlights the difficulty in reproducing or increasing something, especially plants or ideas.

not easy to raise

Suggests a lack of simplicity in bringing something to maturity or a desired state.

resents cultivation

Implies something actively resists being cultivated or developed.

refractory to development

Describes something resistant to being developed or improved.

unyielding to progress

Implies a resistance to positive change or improvement.

taxing to bring about

Focuses on the demanding nature of causing something to occur or exist.

FAQs

How can I use "difficult to cultivate" in a sentence?

You can use "difficult to cultivate" to describe anything that requires significant effort, skill, or resources to grow or develop. For example, "Some bacterial strains are "difficult to cultivate" in a lab setting" or "Trust is "difficult to cultivate" in a hostile environment".

What are some alternatives to "difficult to cultivate"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives such as "hard to grow", "challenging to develop", or "laborious to nurture".

When is it appropriate to use "difficult to cultivate"?

It's appropriate to use "difficult to cultivate" when you want to emphasize the effort, skill, or specific conditions required for something to grow or develop successfully. It's a good fit when the process isn't straightforward or requires overcoming obstacles.

Is "challenging to cultivate" or "difficult to cultivate" better?

Both "difficult to cultivate" and "challenging to cultivate" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. "Difficult" might imply a higher degree of effort or obstacles, while "challenging" could suggest a more stimulating or engaging type of difficulty.