---
title: "Hi, I’ve been a plant momma for awhile now but trying to become more…"
description: "Hi, I’ve been a plant momma for awhile now but trying to become more knowledgeable. When do you know it’s time to repot?? Just found this long guy hanging out…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/6508cb213227540715230df3"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Plantastic"
published: "2023-09-18T22:11:45.678Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z5exufrrAOJMMRAs20Fju7sWX3joAxQ8uPzp7eFigmw/292705f74d9e4807bf54eda8a1f3d642.webp?size=large"
---

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# Hi, I’ve been a plant momma for awhile now but trying to become more…

_Posted by Plantastic on 2023-09-18_

Hi, I’ve been a plant momma for awhile now but trying to become more knowledgeable. When do you know it’s time to repot?? Just found this long guy hanging out under my Arrowhead…do roots peeking through mean it’s time to repot? And is there a way to tell without seeing the bottom/root ball? Any help is appreciated. Thanks! :)

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z5exufrrAOJMMRAs20Fju7sWX3joAxQ8uPzp7eFigmw/292705f74d9e4807bf54eda8a1f3d642.webp?size=large)

## 8 comments

### Madi 🪴💕 commented on 2023-09-18

if its growing roots out of the pot its likely in need of a repot. Could I see a picture of the full plant to see how big it is?

#### Plantastic replied on 2023-09-18

Hi Madi! I’d have agree it’s definitely time… it’s about a foot tall. It wasn’t that much shorter when I purchased it but I can see now the soil is stiff and pulling away from the sides of the pot

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z5exufrrAOJMMRAs20Fju7sWX3joAxQ8uPzp7eFigmw/8e90cc6f3150443385170eca83729962.webp?size=large)

#### Sunny replied on 2023-09-18

Stuff dry soil that pulls away from the sides indicates the soil is drying out too much between watering. You can get yellow or crispy leaves from under watering.

#### John G Amero replied on 2023-09-21

I love this comment!  
I have been using that dirt visual as a measurement of “Ok now its time to water.” for cacti and others. I’ll stop doing that.

### Sunny commented on 2023-09-18

You have to take off the pot and look at the root ball to actually know if it is getting root bound. There is no need to repot with just one small root sticking out. Just cut such a small root or leave it. Repot if the plant looks weak, leaves are wilting from overgrown roots blocking drainage. Repot if the plant has woven a root basket AND the plant is suffering. My spider plants all arrived badly root bound months ago. They look great. So, I won’t repot them right now.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/wefqOljjhEOiS9LRzOB1-QhxkVJiB4A5DGumXhnNrhs/56143547a3654c20be9cc76bc802f331.webp?size=large)

#### Plantastic replied on 2023-09-18

Thank you for your input. I’m still a newbie so I don’t know 100% yet whether something is root-bound or not. But this what it looks like

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/Z5exufrrAOJMMRAs20Fju7sWX3joAxQ8uPzp7eFigmw/cef380bf8d8d4523bfcff9d5febf8e74.webp?size=large)

### Sunny commented on 2023-09-18

Not a problem. 😁 There is a learning curve and all plants are different in different environment.

The roots look like they found standing water and circled the pot bottom. Then, started to send fine roots upwards. Ideally, the roots would grow out and down. It’s better to repot even though it’s not horribly root bound.

Soak the root ball in water because it’s too dry to spread out the roots in the new pot. Place a mound of soil in the bottom of new pot. Spread roots over it. Add more soil. Water.

I use 1/2 succulent mix with regular potting soil to get good drainage with syngoniums. I use timed release fertilizer (Osmocote or similar) for convenience. I throughly water when the soil dries to 1 inch. This plant likes bright indirect light and high humidity. Good luck🪴🍀

#### Plantastic replied on 2023-09-18

Amazing, thank you so much for this!!!

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