PlantRoot bound.
The condition of a container plant whose roots have filled the pot and begun circling the wall or base, leaving little medium to hold water.
What it means for your plants
Signs include water running straight through, the pot drying within 2–3 days, and roots pushing out of the holes or lifting the plant. Pot up just 2–5 cm wider in diameter, loosening or scoring circling roots, preferably in spring.
IN PRACTICE
A peace lily that wilts two days after a full watering and lifts out as a solid mat of roots is root bound.
Put it into practice
Repot only for a real reason, in spring, into a pot 2–5 cm wider. A grower’s guide to the signs, pot sizing, root handling and the aftercare that prevents root rot.
Repotting houseplants: when to do it, what size pot and how
