Here are images of my BOP before and after reporting it. I bought the plant on marketplace in April and it was in the 10" pot. I could tell the plant needed to be reported even when I bought it. Now 3 months later the plant was busting out of the pot (but not literally because the roots were too thick to fit through the drainage holes). It would completely dry out within 3 days max so I knew it just had too much going on in that tiny pot. I finally found a day with a friend to repot it but I couldn't find a 12" grower pot anywhere near me. So I found a 14" and thought maybe this would work considering the root system of the plant was so large. I made sure the soil wasn't packed in too tight and honestly it looks like the two plants fit so much better. But I'm wondering… did I make a huge mistake? Will this thing get rot in no time because of this? Please let me know if anyone has had any experience with something like this. (Images with the orange pot is the previous pot, images with the black grower pot is the new one)

Hi! First of all, your plant looks great! Now, given the information you provided, I don't think there will be an issue with the new pot. If it was as rootbound as you mentioned and looking at the photos, it seems like moving it into a pot 4' langer was the right call!

I've done them into pots 10-12 inches bigger. As long as you don't go crazy with the watering you're fine. Especially in a location as bright as that.

Looks great, I think it'll love it.

Looks great, it should be fine.

Do you know which bird of paradise it is?

Strelitzia nicolai

this time of year, with long days and strong sun, you have a lot of leeway. don't worry.
any time you have 1" all around of new soil with no roots yet just be aware that without roots, you've just wrapped your plant in a wet blanket, so be careful not to overwater.. this is the right time of year to do it. your plant is actively growing and in about 4-6weeks the roots will have invaded that new soil completely and you can start treating the pot as a single entity, instead of a rootball with a wet soil blanket around it.

BullysMamma said: this time of year, with long days and strong sun, you have a lot of leeway. don't worry.
any time you have 1" all around of new soil with no roots yet just be aware that without roots, you've just wrapped your plant in a wet blanket, so be careful not to overwater.. this is the right time of year to do it. your plant is actively growing and in about 4-6weeks the roots will have invaded that new soil completely and you can start treating the pot as a single entity, instead of a rootball with a wet soil blanket around it.

Yes.

I like to remember the new soil "zone" with larger and more sentimental plants, and water accordingly.

I assume the moisture will help tease new root growth towards it, but I try not to waterlog new soil if there are no roots to utilize the moisture yet.

dont "tease" the roots into this fabulous fluffy new exterior... especially not with water! lol
underwater, underwater, underwater

if we're going to anthropomorphize the baby, let it go thirsty to encourage it to explore for new water sources and send roots into the new soil.

im NY, your CA, so I can't give you specific guidelines, but until Aug 15th, don't water that pot until the outside ring of new soil is BONE dry crispy crunchy.. 8. weeks from now you can water it every day, but until then, I want you to be cautious, until that soil is fully invaded with roots, it's a smothering waiting to happen. you can recover if the plant gets dry and wilts by watering.. easy peasy! , but you can't recover from root rot.