---
title: "What can I do to help this fern? It’s been like this for about a…"
description: "What can I do to help this fern? It’s been like this for about a year, dying back and then sprouting a few fronds. Planta wants me to water it every other day,…"
url: "https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ/64a7bbfa725b0033aaa1dd65"
community: "Pests, diseases and problems"
author: "Kirsty"
published: "2023-07-07T07:17:14.904Z"
language: "en"
image: "https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OZkauy145oYcTh559_kE6exianSqdzjtt9MdNmuSqk4/a48b450e66fd4aed8561dd0cbe558544.webp?size=large"
---

[Community](https://getplanta.com/community.md) / [Pests, diseases and problems](https://getplanta.com/community/lKxUkhzRR_aIJD7o1QvtwQ.md)

# What can I do to help this fern? It’s been like this for about a…

_Posted by Kirsty on 2023-07-07_

What can I do to help this fern? It’s been like this for about a year, dying back and then sprouting a few fronds. Planta wants me to water it every other day, but the soil is staying wet so I’m skipping waterings.

![Attachment 1 of 1](https://images.getplanta.com/v1/resize/OZkauy145oYcTh559_kE6exianSqdzjtt9MdNmuSqk4/a48b450e66fd4aed8561dd0cbe558544.webp?size=large)

## 5 comments

### Penny L commented on 2023-07-07

I have a maidenhair fern, and I only water it once a week even though it’s in a much shallower pot than yours. It could be that it’s roots have been affected by overwatering and you need to trim them back and repot the plant in fresh soil to fight the root rot. Make sure it’s well-draining soil that’s still nutrient rich, and don’t fertilize for at least a month. Hope this helps! 💚

#### Kirsty replied on 2023-07-07

Thank you! Yes, I’ll take a look at the roots and repot it :)

### Rhonda commented on 2023-07-07

I read an article that said as long as the fern has live roots there’s hope of saving it. I’m desperately clinging to that.

#### Kirsty replied on 2023-07-07

I just checked the roots and they seem very strong. I’ve mixed leca in for extra drainage and we’ll see how it goes

### Penny L commented on 2023-07-07

I think that’s true for every plant. Just think of all the plants that die back naturally in the winter because they go dormant—and then start growing like crazy as soon as spring arrives. I’m lighting an incense for your plant. 🙏🏼💚

---

_Source: the Planta community (https://getplanta.com). Reading is open to everyone. To post, comment and like, get the Planta app: https://getplanta.com/download_