Sooner or later, every gardener experiences a rootbound houseplant. There’s nothing worse than realizing that your soil is not holding water and your plant isn’t thriving, only to find the roots have grown too big for the pot. Over time, bound roots can kill your plant. Before you toss your houseplant, try these tips and tricks. With luck and just a little care, your plant will soon be happy and healthy again.
What Causes Houseplant Roots to Bind?

Sometimes, bound roots may be visible from the top of your plant’s pot. As the roots struggle for space, they’ll become visible on the top of the soil.
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As plants grow, we only see the crown and foliage. Under the soil, however, the roots are growing at the same rate. Over time, the roots become too long for the container and will begin to grow in circles. This displaces the soil, preventing your plant from getting the nutrients and water that it needs. The drainage capabilities of the soil are also changed, which can lead to root rot. Bound roots are frequently seen in newly purchased plants from nurseries and garden centers, as the plants are sold in the same pots they’re sprouted in. Plants with heavy root systems also frequently become rootbound as the roots constantly grow.
Inspect the Roots

Rootbound houseplants are something every plant lover experiences. You can save your plant with proper care.
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Before beginning, you shouldn’t cut, trim, or manipulate a plant’s roots while it’s in a dormant stage. It’s important that trimming roots or repotting only be done in spring. Cutting or trimming roots on a dormant plant can cause your plant to die. The plant won’t be able to close off the cut ends of the root, leaving it vulnerable to insects and bacteria.
If your plant is growing, carefully pull the root ball and plant out of the pot. To avoid breaking the roots, place newspaper or another covering on the floor, then tip your plant, still in its pot, over. You may have to gently pry the sides of the root and soil ball away from the inside of the plant. While you should take care to not break as many of the roots as possible, some may break in this process. Eventually, you should be left with a root mass out of the pot. Carefully inspect the roots. Any roots that look damaged, or soft, or that have changed colors should be trimmed with gardening shears. These roots won’t be able to recover and may contribute to mold growth in your soil if left in place.
How to Correct

One easy way to correct bound roots is by dividing your plants. Creating two smaller plants gives them both space to grow.
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The best way to help a houseplant with bound roots depends on what type of root system it has, as well as the requirements of the plant.
If your plant has fleshy, thick roots, use extra caution. These root systems tend to be very brittle. If your plant has thin, hair-like roots, you will likely encounter more resistance in separating the roots. These roots tend to create tight, strongly bound root balls.
- First, carefully attempt to pull the root system free with your hands, if possible. If the plant is a water-loving variety, you may be able to loosen the root ball with a mildly forceful spray of water in your sink or from a garden hose.
- Next, if the roots won’t pull apart without a large amount of breakage, consider dividing the plant. Using a sharp knife, cut the plant in half, directly down the middle from the crown. You should end up with two plants from the one rootbound houseplant. This process, called propagation, can be continued by planting the portions in soil or allowing the root to grow in water before repotting.
- Finally, repot your plant in a slightly larger pot, surrounding the root system with no less than one inch of loosely packed soil. With time, the roots of your plant will loosen on their own when provided easy to easy-to-penetrate soil.
Alternative Options to Unbinding

Repotting your plants into a larger container is the best long-term solution for bound roots.
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If you have a severely rootbound houseplant, it may be impossible to correct it with the steps above. In these cases, pruning the roots may help. First, pick the plant up and gently shake it to expose the newly loosened roots. Then, carefully prune the roots back. Finally, repot the plant in a larger pot, filling the extra space with loosely packed garden soil. By providing your plant with a larger pot, you’ll encourage the root system to unwind. You may have to repeat this process again in a few months to fully loosen the root system, but be aware that too much movement could damage your plant.
Some Houseplants Need Bound Roots

Some plants, such as Peace lilies, prefer to have bound roots. Without the stress on the roots, the plant won’t grow well and may stop flowering.
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Some houseplants grow best with bound roots. These plants require stress to send off pips, or new shoots. Aloe, Jade Trees, Spider Plants, Peace Lily, several ferns, and Umbrella trees are examples of plants that require bound roots to reproduce. If you don’t want to grow more of these plants, keep them in an appropriately sized pot. However, if you hope to propagate these plants, don’t correct the root ball unless the plant begins to show signs of damage. Wilting leaves, death of the plant from the center, or roots that grow outside of the pot are all signs that your houseplant needs a bigger pot.
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