Hello Mudlady, The bottom should have some hint of roots. Carefully look at the crown and look for tight brown bumps about the size of beans. This side would be the "up" side. There may be sticks or brown things coming out of the "up" side, but they should not look like roots. If you still can't figure it out, soak it in water for about 2 hours. Swish away all dirt and then look for the brown nubs. If you still can't find the top, then keep them for about 5 days between several layers of wet newspaper in a warm room. Make sure the paper doesn't dry out or get stinky and mildewy. It's best to change the paper every day and mist it with fresh water. Check after the fifth day to see if you see any brown or green nubs are swelling on one side, or any white root growth on the other side. If you don't see anything by that time, post again here and we'll review what's happened. I'll be glad to check for your post and help you out, if needed. Good luck, Lainey

Laura, I'm not ignoring you, have just been REALLY busy lately! This will need to be short! Yes, I am still growing ferns. All the ones I have are still the ones that were planted in the original "potter's clay," so they're not "spreading" much at all. I still want more--but there are SO many things I want! Some of it gets done and some doesn't! The most successful one I have is the Japanese Painted fern, which has spread "moderately" (again, in HEAVY clay!), and looks great every year. It's just starting to grow for this year. Is usually semi-evergreen, but the wild temp swings Got It, like everything else that's "evergreen" got GOT this year! Next most successful is my Autumn Fern (don't have time to look up genus/species). I love that one because the new fronds coming out have a real bronzy look to them--thus the name! It hasn't really spread much, but it does come back "solidly" every year. "As time permits" I'm still planning to dig my existing ferns to GREATLY improve the soil and then replant them. Some day! The Ostrich fern, which is supposed to be invasive, and the Leatherwood fern both come back--BARELY--with one or two fronds every year. So they "still exist," but sometimes I wonder if I should put them out of their misery! Again, if I ever have time I'll dig and improve the soil--and see if they make it and start doing better. I still want a hardy maidenhair fern some day--and there are plenty of others I'd like to try! I'm not familiar with the Japanese tassel fern, but I looked it up and it IS hardy (I think it was z5), so I'd say plant it outside and see what happens! The more organic matter you put in the soil, the happier it will be! Give it mostly shade--some early morning or very late day sun should be ok. The north side of my (two story) house is already getting some sun I just noticed today. Otherwise keep it fairly wet, and for sure don't let the soil dry completely, or with some ferns they get "suddenly crispy" and, while they usually survive the "trauma," it can take them a long time to recover and grow new fronds. A thick wood mulch would definitely help with moisture retention in the soil--and did I mention LOTS of organic matter! Have to go! Let us know later in the summer how it's going! Skybird

I live about as far away from you as possible so my advice may mean nothing - to me it sounds like they are in shock. It could be stronger winds then they have ever experienced before, stronger sunlight or something about the weather that they are not used to dealing with (like salt spray). With mine, I water the trunk every day. I mean I spray the trunks of all the tree ferns more than I ever water the soil in the pots they are growing in. They get most of the soil moisture from rain but the wind can dry out the trunks which seem to prefer being moist all the time. Whenever I repot mine I cut off all but one or two fronds to help it adjust to the new soil and any damage done to the roots while being repotted. I've had mine for many years and the tallest one is over 6 feet tall. I don't really baby them, but I keep them moist, water the trunks and try to keep them out of the wind.

https://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/fern/lady-fern This site has a lot of information on identification.