Why Is Root Bound Bad?

When plants are pot-bound, roots that should be growing outward from the bottom and sides of the plant are forced to grow in a circular fashion, following the shape of the container. Those roots will eventually form a tight mass that will overwhelm the pot, potting medium, and eventually strangle the plant.

Is being root bound bad?

A plant that is only a little root bound will come out of the container easily, but a badly root bound plant may have trouble being removed from the container. ... In very severe root bound plants, you may have no option but to break the container the plant is growing in to remove it.

Do plants really like to be root bound?

But you may be surprised to learn that some plants really like being root bound. The following is a list of plants that prefer to be root bound: Peace lily, spider plant, African violets, aloe vera, umbrella tree, ficus, agapanthus, asparagus fern, spider lily, Christmas cactus, jade plant, snake plant and Boson fern.