One of gardening’s common beliefs is that some plants like to be root bound. So you are wondering: do Chinese evergreen like to be root bound.
In this article, I will tell you whether Chinese evergreen like to be root bound or not. Plus I will discuss the effects of root-bound on your plant. Also, I will tell you how to achieve great results without stressing your plant.
But for the sake of simplicity, I will put the answer to our main question as simple as this: do Chinese evergreen like to be root bound? Chinese evergreen does not like to be root bound. Because such a situation signal to the plant that there is no future room for growth.
However, some gardeners let their Chinese evergreen be root bound to enforce blooming. Keep reading to know how root bound can affect your plant.
How root-bound affects Chinese evergreen
The following are the results of root-bound:
Signals to the plant that it will die soon
When the Chinese evergreen under root bound situation it responds by stoping its normal growth and focusing on regeneration ( blooming).
The people who think Chinese evergreen like to be root bound are thinking about the blooms. They want the plant to bloom.
But they don’t know that those blooms are the result of the plant acting as it will die soon. It produces blooms (offspring) in order to keep its species. Can you imagine the amount of stress the plant exposed to!
Soil
When the roots of Chinese evergreen became bounded and fill the pot, actually it takes the soil space. Therefore the soil particles will be less when compared with Chinese evergreen that has a healthy root system.
The soil serves two purposes. First, it retains moisture in order for the plant to absorb it through time.
Second, it holds and retains nutrients. In case you root bounded your Chinese evergreen it may show signs of dehydration and nutrients deficiency.
Sings of roots bounded Chinese evergreen
The following are the signs you should look for in order to know whether your Chinese evergreen under root bound stress or not:
Inflated Pot
Chinese evergreen that suffering from root bound will have an inflated pot. The edges of the pot will be swelled.
Roots coming through the drainage holes
This is the most obvious and clear sign that your plant’s roots are bounded. Roots consistently looking for space in order to expand, they will come from the drainage holes looking for an escape from the little space inside the pot.
Signs of dehydration
You may be watering your Chinese evergreen regularly but you still see signs of underwatering like wilting leaves. As I mentioned earlier root bounded Chinese evergreen will have fewer soil particles.
Those soil particles are not enough to capture and retain enough moisture for the plant to absorb. Also, the water may drain quickly from certain cracks as the water cant penetrate the root ball.
Signs of nutrients deficiency
Same as poor water retention properties, the soil will not be able to hold nutrients in order for the plant to absorb.
What to do if your Chinese evergreen root bounded
Forget about the myth that Chinese evergreen like to be root bound. The best action to take in this case is to report your plant before losing it. The following are the steps for effective repotting:
Remove Chinese evergreen from its old container
Gently, hold the plant from its stem. Then turn the pot upside down. Then squeeze the plastic pot in order to free the root ball from the pot.
Sometimes when the root-bound is severe you may find it hard to remove the plant from its old pot. In this case, using a sterilized knife cut the soil edges ( near the internal pot’s sides) in order to free the roots.
While you are doing so you may cut some of the roots, but don’t worry it is ok.
Loosen the root ball
After you removed the root ball from its old pot, loosen the root ball by using your hands. Remove as much soil as you can from the root ball.
If the root ball is hard to be Loosen, using a hose rinse the root ball until the root ball becomes free of soil.
If you did so, it is important to put the plant in a dry and shaded spot for few days in order for the roots to dry out completely before repotting.
Bring a suitable new pot
It is important to choose a pot that suitable for your plant size. Because if you planted in a relatively big pot, the pot will retain much moisture. And may cause root rot.
While if you planted in a small pot after a short period of time your plant will face the root-bound challenge again.
Therefore chose a pot that few inches wider than the old one. And it should have a length that equals 1/3 of the plant length.
Placing the plant in its new pot
For reporting your Chinese evergreen you can use an all-purpose potting mix. It will drain water well and at the same time, it will retain enough moisture for the plant to absorb.
Put potting soil in the pot before putting the plant on it. Then put your Chinese evergreen on its new pot. Then fill the gaps with potting soil.
After you do so give your plant a good soak of water in order to compact the soil and fix the plant.
How to have great results without root bounding your Chinese evergreen
People who think that Chinese evergreen like to be root bounded believe so for two reasons:
Having Blooms
You can have beautiful blooms without stressing your plant with root bound situation. Simply apply fertilizer rich in phosphorus (P) before and during the blooming season.
Preventing overwatering
It is a fact that when the roots of Chinese evergreen are bounded the risk of overwatering is lower. But this is not the right way to approach the problem.
You minimize the risk of overwatering by planting your Chinese evergreen in a pot with plenty of drainage holes. And using a potting mix that has good drainage properties.
Plus watering your plant only when the top two inches of its soil is dry.
In conclusion
Contrary to the common belief that some plants like to be root bound, actually no plant likes to be root bound.
And Chinese evergreen is not an exception. The people who give such advice want to accomplish two things by following the wrong method.
They want to save you from you. They assume that you will overwater your Chinese evergreen. when the plant is root bounded the soil will not be able to retain much moisture.
Of course, this is not the right way to deal with overwatering. Secondly, they want the blooms at all costs. Actually, they want to force the plant to bloom without knowing such blooms are the result of the stress that the Chinese evergreen goes through. For more detailed information and a holistic perspective on caring for potted plants and mastering Container Gardening, Get my book Container Gardening: A Step-by-Step Practical Guide.