Why is it better to transplant to gradually larger pots instead of putting a plant into a pot that it can grow into and then not disturb it?

Question

Why do some potted plants benefit from being root bound and transplanting should be regularly done to gradually larger pots? When they grow in the ground there’s unrestricted space, so why do you want to avoid planting them in a larger pot to begin with?

In: 36

Answer 1

Some plants benefit in cultivation from having a tighter root ball than would be accomplished from putting them in the big pot right away.

There’s also the issue of water usage: A lot of water used to water a small plant in a big pot gets ‘wasted’, it just sits in the dirt, held in by the pot. This can lead to an environment that supports the growth of various fungus or molds that can then infect your plant.