A plant becomes root-bound when its roots have filled the entire container. An easy but unsure way to tell if a plant is root-bound is by checking for roots erupting from the topsoil or drainage holes. These signs may also indicate an overwatered plant or potting soil without nutrients. A more difficult but clear way to tell if a plant is root-bound is by removing the plant from the pot and inspecting the root system. If the root ball looks like a loose network, has the shape of a pot, and contains a lot of visible soil, the root system is healthy. But if the root ball is tangled, looks like a dense mass, and the roots completely circle the root ball, the plant is root-bound. If the roots have barely visible potting soil, forced the plants out of the pot, or caused the plants to crack the pot, the plant is severely root-bound and overdue for repotting.