Budget Re-Pottery for Spindly Bob

[JohnAndSancho]

Ok y'all. It's time to repot Spindly Bob. He's been in the same pot and same dirt for a few years now. Anyway, for those who don't remember - when I first got into palms, I was a big believer in those self watering/bottom watering pots. Well, now I hate them because having to fish big fat roots out of teeny tiny holes absolutely sucks. Anyway, onto my question. 

 

I haven't moved him or done anything other than treat for bugs and clear dead fronds yet, but - do these guys like being root bound? I don't have a bigger pot laying around, and saucers cost as much as planters do these days. Theoretically, if I just laid some old screen in the bottom of the pot, could I reuse the same pot? It's in some good potting mix, but it's the same soil since I first bought him as a twig with leaves during COVID, and now I use a chunky mix of mostly bark and pumice. I'd add in some palm food and some Osmocote in this time. 

He has his own grow light, it's a tall tube style. He's currently in a 12" tapered pot. 

 

 

 

[John2468]

In my experience with bottle palms, they don’t mind being pot bound. This is a 16in pot for reference.

[JohnAndSancho]

She's a beauty! 

[Fusca]

I agree, they're happy as clams in tight spaces.  Here's mine before I put it in the ground.