---
title: "Help! My partner hasn’t repotted this yucca for over four years! I’ve…"
description: "Help! My partner hasn’t repotted this yucca for over four years! I’ve finally convinced him. It was in a 19cm terracotta pot which we had to smash open with a…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/GApkyd6HXuiJwY0BCyImRL?language=de"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Becky"
published: "2025-03-10T22:02:38.647967Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/2cpR-FrhuW1GIttRNDU6UvpEFg-fNKQFYkN0YN51qAU/Tls7W8NuRIOUEdM2mzSC5A.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md?language=de) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md?language=de)

# Help! My partner hasn’t repotted this yucca for over four years! I’ve…

_Gepostet von Becky am 2025-03-10_

Help!

My partner hasn’t repotted this yucca for over four years!

I’ve finally convinced him.

It was in a 19cm terracotta pot which we had to smash open with a hammer because the plant was so stuck!

As you can see from the photos it is severely root bound. We tried soaking it in lukewarm water to help loosen it up, but it didn’t help.

We aren’t sure how best to help it because we need to sort the roots out before we can repot it.

Can anyone offer any advice on how we deal with roots as bad as this?

Thanks! :)

![Anhang 1 von 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/2cpR-FrhuW1GIttRNDU6UvpEFg-fNKQFYkN0YN51qAU/Tls7W8NuRIOUEdM2mzSC5A.webp?size=large)

## 9 Kommentare

### Wolfen 🐺 kommentierte am 2025-03-10

Oh wow! Can't say I haven't done same though with avoiding a repot. I would leave the side roots. The bottom, if it was me I'd cut away a small amount of them, no more than 25% . To encourage some new growth. Then repot it in a pot 3-5cm larger than the roots ball. It may go into shock, i use Mycorrhizal beneficial fungi to help with that.

#### Becky antwortete am 2025-03-11

Thanks so much for your reply! I’ve heard good things about mycorrhizal fungi, will definitely give this a go and hope for the best 🤞

#### Wolfen 🐺 antwortete am 2025-03-11

I love it, I have almost zero transplant shock issues since I started using it. And it helps with nutrient uptake too.

### Gigglzngreenz kommentierte am 2025-03-11

Yup, all of that. I only have one suggestion about the pot you select. I try to select pots that are not smaller at the top, and that taper out instead of in. That way you can pull the plant out easier without having to break your pot. You can use your rounded pots that taper in as cache pots, and set your nursery pot inside the cache pot. It basically becomes your water tray and is a nice way to use your fancy pots. If my cache pots have a hole I plug it up with silicone. I use clear plastic nursery pots so I can see the roots.

#### Becky antwortete am 2025-03-11

That’s definitely a good tip! It was such a shame to waste such a lovely pot :(  
I’ve bought a plastic pot to plant into first. Thanks for the advice!

#### Wolfen 🐺 antwortete am 2025-03-11

It's very common with terra cotta. Since its porous the roots can stick to it.

### monster\_maniac kommentierte am 2025-03-11

dang roots constantly grow so dw abt breaking some. try and rub it around and maybe poke w a copstick to loosen the roots it doesnt have to be perfect but make sure that the roots have room to grow

#### Becky antwortete am 2025-03-11

I hadn’t thought of chopsticks, that’s a good idea. Thanks!

#### monster\_maniac antwortete am 2025-03-12

yw i use chopsticks for plant stuff a lot

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