What is Root Bound? 

A root bound plant is just what it sounds like: its roots are tightly packed and it has grown as much as it can. The roots are now bound by the pot and cannot grow any more. 

Why is being root bound a big deal? Root bound houseplants can clog their pot’s drainage holes, leading to overwatering and root rot.

Here are some symptoms of root bound plants to watch for and tips to recover from being root bound. 

Root bound plant symptoms

Yellow Foliage: If your plant starts to turn yellow, it’s a sign of being root bound. It can affect the whole plant or leaves closer to the base of the plant. This is usually due to the plant not being able to absorb nutrients from the soil (because the roots are taking up more space than soil, so there’s not much for them to absorb anymore). 

Wilting: If your plant keeps wilting no matter how much you water it to perk up, it could be a sign of a root bound plant. Since the roots can’t intake water very effectively being packed so tight, the plant is always thirsty and wilting. 

Rotting: On the other hand, if your roots have blocked the drainage holes of their pot, they may end up sitting in water and that makes them prime targets for root rot. 

Pests: The stressful state of a root bound plant makes them more susceptible to pests. 

Pot Damage: When severely root bound, your plant’s roots might actually bend or break their container! 

Lack of Soil: As roots grow, they displace the soil in the pot and eventually may take up more space than the soil itself. If you can see roots peeking out of the top of the soil, it’s a sign that your plant is approaching root bound status if not already there. 

Since some of these symptoms can be caused by multiple issues with your plant (over- or under-watering, lack of fertilizer, etc.), make sure it’s root bound by removing the plant from the inner grower pot to take a look. 

How to treat a root bound plant 

Depending on how root bound your plant is, you have a few options. Keep in mind that not all plants can handle the stress of repotting after being root bound for a long time. Plant varieties with thick, fleshy roots with fewer hair roots are more sensitive and may not survive repotting after long-term stress. But it’s always worth a try, so consider these options for your root bound plant. 

Repotting a Root Bound Plant: To repot a root bound plant, loosen the roots (you may need to cut some away in order to loosen the roots packed around the inner root ball) and repot in a pot that is 1-2 inches wider in diameter than the original with new potting soil. Water thoroughly and let drain well. 

Pruning Houseplant Roots: If your root bound plant isn’t too root bound and you want to keep it in the same pot, prune back some of the roots so that it can fit back in its original pot with about an inch of fresh potting soil on all sides. 

Dividing a Root Bound Plant: It’s possible to divide your root bound plant into two or more smaller plants to repot with room to grow. Use a sterilized knife to cut the roots into two halves and gently pull apart the plant. Repot the two halves as described above. 

Plants that like to be root bound

Sometimes plants actually do their best when they are root bound. These plants produce pups or baby plants when root bound because they need to be under some stress in order to reproduce. Examples of plants that like to be root bound include spider plants, sansevieria (snake plant), umbrella tree, jade, and aloe.

You’ll want to repot these plants when you want the mother plant to grow larger, but they won’t make baby plants unless they get to be root bound again. As long as they aren’t showing symptoms of being root bound, you’re okay to leave them a little snug. 

Get to the root of the problem

Have you saved a root bound plant? Tell us about it in the comments!