# Thick mat of circling roots at the pot wall: likely causes and fixes

> Thick mat of circling roots at the pot wall on cannabis is most often Root-bound in a pot too small. How to tell them apart, the fix for each and what recovery looks like.

Also called: root bound, rootbound, roots circling, roots out the bottom, pot full of roots.

Run the checker with this sign: https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/diagnose/?at=roots&s=roots-circling

## Likely causes, most likely first

### Root-bound in a pot too small (Likely)

- Kind: Root zone; urgency: Deal with it this week
- Fix: Up-pot photoperiods into a container about 2-3x larger, loosening circling roots gently. Autoflowers: don't transplant; increase watering and feeding frequency instead. Small pots can still grow big plants with high-frequency fertigation (several feeds a day).
- Recovery: New white roots in the fresh medium within 5-7 days; daily wilting stops.
- Confirm: Look at the roots: Hydro: lift the net pot and look at the root mass in good white light. Containers: tip the plant out with a hand over the medium and look at the edges and bottom of the root ball. Healthy roots are white to cream with fine fuzzy tips. Brown roots whose outer layer slides off between the fingers leave a bare thread: rot. Firm, evenly tan roots with white tips in coloured solution are staining.
- Confirm: Lift the pot and check moisture at depth: Lift the pot right after a full watering to learn its wet weight, then lift before each watering. Water when it is clearly lighter (about half the added water gone). Push a finger or a moisture probe 5 cm (2 in) down. Heavy for 3-4+ days with droop: overwatering. Very light with limp papery leaves: thirst.
- Article: [Cannabis root problems: the master decision tree](https://genetixbay.com/knowledge/diagnosis/root-problems-decision-tree.md)

## Note

Guidance, not a guarantee. The checker weighs common causes against what you tell it; confirm with the tests before you treat, change one thing at a time and watch the new growth.