Before dividing or repotting your Boston fern, it is best to determine why it is not doing well. There is no proper cure if you don't know the cause.
Boston ferns that are outside in the summer often languish when they are brought inside in the winter. It is the change in light that is the prime cause of this winter deterioration. Placing it in a brighter spot may help.
Letting the soil get too dry in winter is also a problem. Ferns do not tolerate dryness at all. In fact, a tightly potted
plant is almost impssible to overwater.
Repotting is only appropriate when the
plant is so potbound that it is difficult to keep the roots moist for more than a couple of days after a thorough watering.
Wait until your
plant is healthy and quite rootbound before dividing it.
