Crossword Genius

Assess the situation, having deadheaded pot plant (4,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

take stock

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'assess the situation' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)

'deadheaded pot plant' is the wordplay.
'deadheaded pot' becomes 'take' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'plant' becomes 'stock' (stock is a kind of plant).
'take'+'stock'='TAKE STOCK'

'having' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for take stock that I've seen before include "Review a situation - assess holdings" , "as shoplifters do" , "See how the land lies" , "Make inventory or examine own position" , "Review situation or count assets" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.
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