Expert: nick mccann - 5/22/2008

Question
Hi Nick, this may sound like a stupid question, but I just purchased a large. beautiful fern which is potted about 1 wk ago.  I keep it outside... not directly in the sun, in fact it's close to the house on the north side where it gets filtered light.  I keep the soil moist (not drenched) and I'm now starting to notice that the stems/leaves on the bottom of that plant are starting to shrivel up.  Please help me with any suggestions!  Thank you!

Answer
Hi Terri, when you say you purchased it, did it come in a nursery container (usually green or black)? or was it in a decorative container that it is meant to stay in; many people buy a plant and think it can just stay in the nursery container, when in fact it is only a temporary container, and needs to be repotted into something larger and with new medium. Let me know what kind of container it is in and also its not advisable to keep the soil moist, you should water it real well when it needs it, then back off until it needs it again, you don't want the roots to be moist continually, unless it is an aquatic plant......