pot size and pruning mothers?

Hi, kind of a dual question. My mothers are getting too big. Can I put them in a smaller pot (right now 3 gallon) to control size or do I just prune the crap out of them, or both?

Putting them in a smaller pot will only cause them to become root bound. Prune and train the heck out of them is what I would do.

What happens if root bound? Wouldn't they get root bound eventually anyway? Train to do what, and how? Right now they are only 12-18".

When they get root bound, pull them out of the pot and chop 1/3 of the root ball away - repot with fresh soil and prune the crap out of them, they will bounce back.

Root pruning restores lost vigor.