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

Good answers so far, I’ll add that quite a few houseplants like to be slightly root bound due to their natural environment of growing in the boles and crotches of tropical trees. If you repot these too large/too soon they’ll go into shock and likely look shitty as they are programmed to scramble and fill up their rooting space before they start making vegetation. Outcompete the other plants for the same volume is the idea with most tropicals.