What is Pot-Bound Plant?

A "pot-bound" or "root-bound" plant has a root system that has grown to fill the container, creating a dense, tangled mass of roots.  This prevents the plant from accessing essential nutrients, water, and oxygen, which can lead to stunted growth and stress.

You've seen it before in many purchased pot plants. The roots are beginning to creep out of the drainage hole, or when you pull the plant out of its bought pot, it is a hard, tangled mass of roots.

Why is this an unhealthy, struggling plant? 

Nutrient and water uptake: The tangled roots struggle to absorb water and nutrients from the soil, leading to nutrient deficiencies and wilting.

Oxygen deprivation: The compacted roots can't access sufficient oxygen, essential for healthy root function. 

Drainage issues: Root-bound plants can also clog drainage holes, leading to overwatering and root rot. Conversely, large circling roots can prevent water from being retained in the soil, and water runs out of the pot too quickly.

What are the signs of a root-bound plant:

Stunted growth: If your plant has stopped producing new growth, its roots probably do not have enough room to grow. Stunted growth is a clear sign of a root-bound plant that you need to repot.

Yellowing leaves: If your plant has yellowing or browning leaves and stems near the base of the plant, it may be root-bound. However, this symptom can also indicate underwatering, overwatering, or too much sun. If your plant has yellowing or brown leaves even though you’ve provided it with proper care, this may indicate that it is root-bound.

Distorted pot: If you have a severely root-bound plant, the shape of the pot that it’s in may become distorted or even crack. The roots may even creep out of the drainage holes in the grower container.

Visible roots: If your plant’s roots are breaking through the surface of your soil—or even creeping over the sides of the container—you can assume that your plant is root-bound.

What is the solution?

Repotting: The most common solution is to repot the plant into a larger container with fresh soil. Repotting into a Root Pouch grow bag will ensure that roots are entrapped and pruned at the fabric surface. This causes the plants to send more feeder roots, resulting in a fluffy, dense root ball. More roots = greater uptake of water, nutrients and oxygen.

Soaking the root ball: Before repotting, soak the root ball in water to help loosen the roots.

Continue watering: Once repotted, the thirsty plant will be taking in more water than previously in its confined space. Water the plant thoroughly and let the soil dry out slightly between waterings. Re-home your plant with a Waterpot Olla to eliminate the guesswork. Let the Olla do the regulated watering.