Sometimes what happens is that roots from a nearby plant (like a tree) will send roots up INTO the pot, it is not necessarily the roots from what is INSIDE the pot.

Given that this is a new cutting, I'd say that is probably what happened.

I would cut the roots. If the roots are growing out of the pot and not so much into the pot, they need to change their direction, and if, as esh ga says, it's tree roots growing up, they need to not be there.

I will typically try to loosen the ground under the pot with a shovel before pulling it up, as most of the time at my house the roots are from the potted plant. Sometimes I'll pot them up a size if the root growth has been really exuberant, but if you decide to sacrifice them, I'd cut back the top growth at the same time you cut the roots.

Well, I went out and gave them a gentle tug just to get an idea of the scope of the problem and to my surprise they came loose. It seems that the tree roots were starting to grow up into the pots, rather than the plant roots growing down. You were right esh!

Thanks for all your help.