Growing In Pots

Rootbound Plants

Managing Rootbound Plants

Root-bound plants in pots often have depleted nutrient reserves and it can be difficult for water to penetrate dense root systems. That means that such plants will need more attention after planting for watering and fertiliser applications to reduce the chances of plant failure. The Plant Company concluded from research and observations that:

1. Root-bound plants that are healthy are fine to plant.

2. Root-bound plants should have particular attention paid to fertiliser applications, watering, and be staked (if needed) after planting.

3. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting through roots on root-bound plants as there is both no need and it causes injury to the plant that can enable pathogen entry.

The Plant Company has planted tens of thousands of plants over the years. We don’t cut roots on plants, even when they are root-bound. However, we do pay particular attention to ensure that plants have been watered before planting, they are not sitting in dry soil after planting, they have had fertiliser spread across the soil after planting, and that the plants that need supporting have been staked. With these simple rules, rarely do any plants fail, even if they were root-bound at planting.

Should I Cut The Roots Before Planting?

There are numerous schools of thought on whether roots that have spiraled inside a plant pot should be cut or not. The Plant Company has reviewed many reports and undertaken research to determine the best course of action.

Our research showed that when root-bound plants were put in the ground, the roots quickly expanded into the soil around them. They did this just as quickly as those plants where larger roots had been cut through, and quicker than those plants that were not root-bound. The conclusions were that it made no difference if the roots were cut or not, and root-bound plants still grow well.

Dr Hansen from The Plant Company added a few further observations and points on the subject. “Roots naturally cross-over each other in soil as they chase nutrients, water, and air. Digging up any established plant shows exactly this. So, a degree of root-boundness is entirely normal, and will always occur to an extent when plants are grown in a pot. However, root-bound plants in pots may have depleted nutrient reserves and it can be difficult for water to penetrate dense root systems. That means they will need more attention after planting to water and fertiliser applications to reduce the chances of plant failure.”

The Plant Company therefore concludes the following:

1. Root-bound plants that are healthy are fine to plant.

2. Root-bound plants should have particular attention paid to fertiliser applications, watering, and be staked (if needed) after planting.

3. The Plant Company does not recommend cutting through roots on root-bound plants as there is both no need and it causes injury to the plant that can enable pathogen entry.