Root-bound · Spider Plant
Do Spider Plants Like to Be Root Bound?
Yes. spider plants produce more baby plantlets when slightly root-bound. The mild stress signals the plant to reproduce.
What happens to a root-bound Spider Plant
Root-bound spider plants flower more reliably and produce dramatic cascades of baby plantlets. The tuberous white roots fill the pot densely without harm.
When to repot anyway
When the pot is visibly bulging, the soil has been completely displaced by roots, or production of baby plantlets has stopped despite good light.
Signs the plant is TOO root-bound
Pot cracking, soil mounded above the rim, plant lifting itself out of the pot, brown leaf tips that don't resolve with watering changes.
Reference: NC State Extension — Chlorophytum comosum
When it’s time to repot, see the Spider Plant repotting guide.