Is this root rot?! First house plant. Fern dying

[NooPlantMom]

Hello Everyone,
I'm new here and I'm a new plant mom. I bought a beautiful Boston Fern about 3-4 weeks ago and it's been slowly dying ever since. I can't seem to figure out what's going on. I only water about every 10 days or so (or when the leaves start curling and getting crunchy) and I mist it frequently since I have it hanging. Leaves keep dropping, fronds are drying up. The leaves are turning gray and then falling. I've pruned, no luck. I took the plant out of the pot yesterday and took the attached pics. Any advice would be helpful! I do not want to kill my first plant! Some stats:
It hangs above my kitchen table about 2.5 ft. from ceiling and maybe 3-4 feet away from a north facing window with sheer curtains and Venetian blinds (blinds opened during day). The pot looks like a "self-watering" pot (I discovered this when I took it out). I'd really like to save this plant if I can. I'm open to any suggestions. Thank you in advance!

 

[Logan]

Hello and welcome to GF
The roots look ok, but it might need repotting when the weather gets warmer, put it in a pot that's slightly bigger than the one that it's in. Don't let it sit in water, that's the main reason why house plants die.

 

[NooPlantMom]

Thank you! I was so worried. There are some little fiddleheads in there that started drying out so I'm hoping it lasts another 3 weeks or so before I can repot! Do you think I'll need to loosen the roots or just place it in the new pot?

 

[cpp gardener]

It needs more water and light. Lift the blinds all day long and open the sheers. It probably should be watered every week. I had a large one in a window corner with a North facing and East facing window that required water every week. This was in a client's house that I maintained. I had to attach a deep saucer and leave it full when I left or it dropped TONS of leaflets. It was happy for about 10 years. Then it got too big and I had to move it outside.

 

[NooPlantMom]

It needs more water and light. Lift the blinds all day long and open the sheers. It probably should be watered every week. I had a large one in a window corner with a North facing and East facing window that required water every week. This was in a client's house that I maintained. I had to attach a deep saucer and leave it full when I left or it dropped TONS of leaflets. It was happy for about 10 years. Then it got too big and I had to move it outside.

Great advice! The blinds are usually opened but I can pull them up. Here is a picture of it's usual daily position (it was happier when I took this right after purchase, lol). Even though it's a hanging plant, should I try to put a pebble bowl under it as well for humidity?

 

[NooPlantMom]

P.S. I also have a much better macrame hanging plant holder now.

 

[Logan]

It does need more light.

 

[NooPlantMom]

I'm on it! Just have to figure out a spot, because.. Also... Cats, lol.

I'll prioritize finding a way to get Ms. Fern some more light.

 

[Don Perry]

One thing you might consider is , If you have double paned windows a lot of them have a UV light filter or film inside. It is not something that we as humans can see. But the plants need this UV light to grow. If the UV light is blocked , your fern is virtually in the dark.
I have a glassed in sun porch that has these type of glass and I always had problems growing my starts in trays until I read an article on the double paned windows that stated they do this to prevent heat build up between the panes of glass. I put them under a grow light and they came back to life, each plant leaning toward the grow light.
I don't know if this is part of your problem, but just a thought.

 

[Jewell]

Another fern lover so just had to give my unfiltered and unnecessary opinion.

When my ferns get as potbound as yours appears I cut the clump in half. Cut don’t tear, it does less harm to roots over all. (Read that somewhere years ago and it’s worked well for me) And repot into same sized pot filling in with new potting soil. Unless you want to have bigger and bigger plants this is the easiest. I always give away the second plant, otherwise I’d never have room.

 

[NooPlantMom]

Thank you! I'd love to get this one to it's former glory, then go BIGGER!!

 

[cpp gardener]

Skip the pebble bowl. You would have to use a room humidifier to get any affect.

 

[NooPlantMom]

@Don Perry - I'm taking EVERYTHING into consideration. Thank you!

 

[NooPlantMom]

It does need more light.

Operation "Get that plant some light" has commenced. Thank you!