---
title: "My asparagus fern has a tonne of roots growing out the bottom of the…"
description: "My asparagus fern has a tonne of roots growing out the bottom of the pot, but will repotting in October kill it? Should I wait until the spring? I have a…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg/F8gbvrkZQhymJHl5pHRdxA"
community: "Anything about plants"
author: "Kattygirl"
published: "2024-10-19T17:29:10.160351Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/iv-S-76ExalcGpxt0VV0yAilriPIdLOg_w1k-z9sO8E/2bK0wZ5-QHexb7EPvANo9Q.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Anything about plants](https://getplanta.com/community/lZ7uAE3pQ86jnFGxrCwLrg.md)

# My asparagus fern has a tonne of roots growing out the bottom of the…

_Posted by Kattygirl on 2024-10-19_

My asparagus fern has a tonne of roots growing out the bottom of the pot, but will repotting in October kill it? Should I wait until the spring? I have a couple of plants that are also starting to root out the bottom, but not as bad. Thoughts on repotting in fall? Thanks!

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/iv-S-76ExalcGpxt0VV0yAilriPIdLOg_w1k-z9sO8E/2bK0wZ5-QHexb7EPvANo9Q.webp?size=large)

## 13 comments

### TreseaB commented on 2024-10-19

If she needs repotting, I’d repot her.

#### Kattygirl replied on 2024-10-19

I heard it could stress a plant out if you repot in the fall (not growing season). Have you repotted in the fall/winter before and they fared well? I’m just terrified because I love the asparagus fern so much!

#### TreseaB replied on 2024-10-19

Yes, I guess it kinda matters where you live, too. I live in SE NC zone 8a and I have never had a problem. But if you live up north and where it’s cold already. I’d probably wait.

#### Kattygirl replied on 2024-10-19

Yeah, I’m from upstate NY… I could always crank up the heat lol

#### New to plants replied on 2024-10-19

If the roots are that large it’s better to repot it, just keep the environment stable to give it the best chance

### eatyacarbs commented on 2024-10-19

Roots coming out of the bottom doesn’t always mean it’s time for a repot. Roots follow the water so it’s pretty normal to see this. These can be so fussy, I would wait until early spring 😎

### Sunny commented on 2024-10-19

I would also wait unless the plant is struggling from being root bound. It doesn’t look like it’s struggling. You have to pull off the pot to see all of the roots before determining if it needs repotting.

The plant already has fungus gnats. This could be a sign it’s taking too long to dry out the soil. Adding more soil will only make it take longer to dry the soil. This leads to more gnats and root rot. 🍀🪴

#### Kattygirl replied on 2024-10-19

Yeah, I got gnats when I moved… not sure how it happened, but I’m in the process of getting them taken care of (mosquito bits and sticky tabs). Will these roots get destroyed once I repot in the spring and, if so, how bad is that?

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/iv-S-76ExalcGpxt0VV0yAilriPIdLOg_w1k-z9sO8E/fmDFw_iQTb2hXD0X2iohzg.webp?size=large)

#### Sunny replied on 2024-10-19

Those thin roots can be trimmed to get the pot off. I would pull off the pot now because of that thick root. It will be harder to remove the pot months from now when that large root gets thicker. Clipping those thin roots should not hurt your plant. The thick root would be my worry. So, pull off the pot the best way you can to see what’s going on inside the pot. Don’t wait until spring.

#### eatyacarbs replied on 2024-10-19

yowza! you might have to cut that pot off 😂

### Sunny commented on 2024-10-19

That looks like a wick for a self watering pot and not a thick root. 😄 I’m so confused!😆🤪

That may be feeding moisture to the fungus gnat larvae.

#### eatyacarbs replied on 2024-10-20

OH! You’re right!! that’s def the wick. I am back to my original advice of not bothering with a repot lol

#### Sunny replied on 2024-10-20

I have to agree.

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_