rootbound
Outgrown its container
Rootbound describes a plant whose roots have grown to fill their container completely, circling and tangling until they can no longer absorb water or nutrients effectively: The fern was rootbound, so I moved it to a larger pot.
The condition stunts growth and can kill the plant if not addressed.
Figuratively, rootbound suggests being constrained by one's circumstances or origins: She felt rootbound in her hometown.
potbound
Overgrown within container
- repottingMoving plant to larger container
- transplantMove tissue between bodies
- rootballRoots with surrounding soil
container · cramped · stunted · circling · girdling · congested · overgrown · tangled · compressed · dense
confined
Kept within bounds
restrained · tethered · anchored · inhibited · cramped · limited · enclosed · boxed · fettered · shackled
- Tree Plantingsapling, seedling, planting, transplanting, hole digging
- plant conditionshealthy, diseased, wilted, dormant, flowering
- plant statesblooming, wilting, budding, withering, dying
- gardeninggardener, gardening, flowers, seeds, soil
- Gardening Mistakesoverwatering, underwatering, overfertilizing, poor drainage, crowding
- plant problemsiron deficiency, calcium deficiency, wilting, yellow leaves, potassium deficiency
rootboundunconfined
Not restricted or contained
uncrowded · untangled · spacious · established · unrestricted
rootbounduprooted
Removed from foundation
transplantable · mobile · unrooted · free · unanchored
root, bound, roots, boundary, rooted, uproot, rooting, unbound, rootless