If you’ve ever tried to repot a vegetable seedling, houseplant, or avocado tree (and by “you,” I mean me) and found a tightly wound swirl of roots instead of soil (or roots trying to escape the pot by any means necessary), congratulations! You have a root-bound plant!
It will look grim. For me, I encountered the tightly wrapped roots of avocado trees (which were shedding leaves constantly) and persimmon roots that tried to flee through the drainage holes in a too-small container, only to be bound once they got into the self-watering tray. I didn’t even know that was possible. Sigh.
But there is some good news. While being root-bound isn’t a plant’s happiest state, it’s more common than you might think, especially for fruit and vegetable plants grown in container gardens.
Why does a plant become “root-bound”?
A plant becomes root-bound when its roots have outgrown their pot. It can happen with houseplants, and it, sadly, has happened many times to me with things we’ve tried to grow in the container garden.
Instead of spreading out into the soil and forming a living anchor, the roots start circling the inside of the container, searching for space, water, and nutrients. Over time, this tangled mess can get so dense that there’s little room left for the soil or the plant to grow properly.
Don’t believe me? Here is a picture of a very newly freed root-bound persimmon plant that should have been repotted into something bigger at least six months ago. It all started when the roots tried to escape through a drainage hole.
What are the first signs of a plant becoming root-bound?
Here are a few signs:
- Water runs straight through the pot without soaking in.
- The plant looks like it’s struggling, even with regular care.
- The plant is dropping leaves, even with regular care.
- Roots are poking out of the drainage holes.
- When you remove the plant from its pot, you see more roots than soil.
- When you see the roots, they are wrapped around the soil and look “woody.”
What should you do about it?
Don’t worry, being root-bound isn’t necessarily a death sentence. The solution is usually simple: give the plant a bigger home! Gently loosen the roots and repot your plant into a container that’s about 1–2 inches larger in diameter.
Our local urban gardening specialist, Geri, recommends running a finger down the sides of the bound roots to help loosen them before repotting. Then, add fresh soil and water and give it a little time to adjust.
P.S. Geri is awesome. If you want hands-on instruction about urban container gardening (or in-ground gardening), and you can get to Venice, take a look at the classes offered at The Cook’s Garden in Venice.
A happy ending for your leafy friend
Once repotted, most plants will perk up quickly. More space means more nutrients, better hydration, and healthier growth. Think of it like moving from a cramped studio apartment into a comfy, roomy house; your plant will thank you for the upgrade!
One note of warning: larger plants may shed many of their leaves before starting to heal. This happened with our Hass avocado plant. It is just now recovering, whereas our dwarf avocado bounced back with new growth within the week.
Visit our container gardening page for more tips!