To late to re-pot?

So, I have one of my plants which is about 3 weeks into flowering now. It's in a 7 gal smart pot and it's 4 feet by 4 feet.

I feel as if it should be replanted because the soil is rock hard. I believe I read that if the soil is rock hard, that's an indication of it needing
to be replanted due to roots? Is this right? Or is it best to just leave it be in the 7 gal smart pot? Also, the there are roots at the top above
the dirt. I know this is bad, I've yet to get root aphids or have them burned by the sun because of how think and wide the plant is.

Any thoughts? I also had some moist brown spots recently, but I sprayed some mildew cure and it's fine now.

Is this plant outside or inside?

Tough one.. If it were me and my gut told me to repot, I would grab an assistant and to try and wrestle (carefully) it into another pot..

I see no reason you HAVE to though.. but if you feel you must, get help.

probably not the thoughts you were looking for, but that's what came to mind.

Peace~!

Nice Ol Bud said:

Is this plant outside or inside?

Click to expand...

It's outside, sorry forgot to add that.

I've re-potted way, way bigger with a buddy of mine and never had a problem but I always like to get some info from RIU!

Only 3 weeks into flower, I'd go for the transplant...it will contribute greatly to a bigger yield...just get some assistance to prevent breakage...root bound plants have a difficult time with nute uptake...

i honestly wouldnt but that just my input man, Let her finsh out, im sure theres from root left in a 7 gal! GOOD luck!!! one love

there isn't much root growth during flowering so I think repotting at this point would do more harm then good, the recovery period may delay your plant reaching maturity and hurt your yield. id only repot in flower if it was a life or death situation

the leaves feel mm.. How do I put this.. Crunchy.. It looks life, it smells good, but when I move branches around it kind feels dry. I don't even know
if this means something, it just felt different..