A rootbound plant has filled its pot so completely with roots that there's little room for water or nutrients to be held in the soil.
Signs of a Rootbound Plant
Is Rootbound Always Bad?
Not necessarily. Some plants actually prefer being slightly rootbound:
For most other plants, being severely rootbound restricts growth and health.
What to Do
Option 1 — Repot up one size. A pot 2–5 cm wider than the current one. Don't go too large — oversized pots hold excess moisture.
Option 2 — Root prune and repot into the same pot. Trim the outer 2–3 cm of roots with clean scissors, refresh the soil, and return to the same pot. Good for plants you don't want to get bigger.
Root Inspection
When you slip the plant out, healthy roots are white or light tan and firm. Black, mushy roots indicate root rot. Trim all diseased roots back to healthy tissue before repotting.
