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What does this fern want?

B3B3 Posts: 27,505
in Plants

This fern is in light shade with a bit of dappled  sunshine  summer mornings  (fat chance this year)
It's  not dying but it's not doing well. I've cut off the worst bits before taking pic 
Does it need more or less of something?
The soil  in the pot is damp but not wet
In London. Keen but lazy.
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Posts

  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    My first guess is that it wants a lot more room.  I don't suppose you have a spot to plant it in the ground ?  IME, most ferns are happier in that situation.  Good luck with it anyway :)
  • bédébédé Posts: 3,095
    Dividing?
     location: Surrey Hills, England, ex-woodland acidic sand.
    "Have nothing in your garden that you don't know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited August 2023
    I'll put it in a bigger pot, then. I had to rescue it from the ground last year. It didn't like the dry heat even though it was in the shade. I suppose it might be ok this year what with cool wet summer so far. 
    I'll divide a little bit too although it's not all that big.
    Thanks @philippasmith2 and @bédé
    Update:
    You were both spot on. The plant was pot bound. I really didn't expect that.
    Now I have two painted ferns to worry about🙄
     @philippasmith2 and @bédé
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    Sorry about that B3  - obviously a trouble shared is not exactly a trouble halved - where ferns are concerned anyway .   :D
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    One of my ferns this in soil did exactly the same in Spring time and doesn’t look better now. I thought I left the pruning too late. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    🤔
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Simone_in_WiltshireSimone_in_Wiltshire Posts: 1,073
    Yes, B3, I would even say it’s the same fern type. I’m no expert but my one looks like yours and it’s the first time that it grew so strange. 

    I ♥ my garden.

  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited August 2023
    There's a fern thread somewhere . I think it's called fond of fronds or something like that. Someone who looks at the thread might know @Simone_in_Wiltshire
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Alan Clark2 in LiverpoolAlan Clark2 in Liverpool Posts: 2,190
    https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1048520/fond-of-fronds/p1
  • micearguersmicearguers Posts: 646
    It doesn't look so bad to me actually. It's hard to see from the picture, but it looks as if the pot it is in is a bit shallow. I could be wrong, but that's something to check perhaps. I can only think of minor things; for example not to overwater it and allow it a bit of a dry-wet cycle (not actually dry, more moist). If the tap water is hard, use rain water if possible. I agree, it would be happiest in (humus-rich) soil of course. Could it be Dryopteris erythrosora?
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