Stunted roots

One of the main problems that indoor gardeners experience is growing too large a plant in too small a container. Large plants need a larger root system so they can obtain enough water and nutrients to support life processes and growth. In a larger container, there is a reserve of both. In smaller containers, there is not much of a reserve so the unit must be irrigated frequently. A feast/famine cycle is not a good environment for the roots; it disrupts plant growth and lowers yield.
Plants sometimes have deficiencies because the containers are too small. If the roots are root bound they should be transplanted into a larger container, even if they are in early flowering. This increases the amount of water to nutrient solution the roots can draw.

Beyond preventing plants from obtaining a constant supply of water and nutrients, small containers stunt the plants’ roots. Stunted roots result in stunted above-ground growth. Plants grow larger in large containers than in small ones.

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