is my new potted outside fern okay?

[southeastastra]

it's large and in a pot i got it a couple of weeks ago and it was er erect! the last week or so though it has 'drooped' and the leaves are flopping. does that sound right ? i know they are meant to trail but unsure what has happened or if it's not well, any advice, it cost a tenner so don't want to lose it.

Has the sun got to it as ferns dont like to be in the sun and are you keeping the soil moist? Dont drown it or let it get waterlogged but they do like to be kept in shady,moist conditions.

It does sound as if it is struggling in the heat.

Another thing to look at - is the pot big enough? The pots that plants are sold in are often too small and that might exacerbate any problems with drying out. I bought some fancy ferns in the spring and kept them in the pots they came in, until I repotted them about a fortnight ago. They now look far happier and are even producing new fronds.

it gets the sun in the morning only. i do keep it watered too. the pot it came in it relatively small and doesn't have holes at the bottom, it's like a decorative ceramic pot. should i change to a pot with holes and maybe keep it inside until the heat subsides?

Yes, even plants that like the damp need drainage. Change the pot and put it in the shadiest/coolest corner of your garden.

oh just noticed it has one small hole at the bottom! will move the plant and hope it recovers, should i tie the leaves back up of will they unwilt themselves?

Leave the leaves and hopefully they will recover. Any that die and go brown just snip off with a pair of scissors.

thank you!