Fern Problem

You are correct, most ferns do best in partial shade or filtered light, not full sun, but in zone 8, especially in the winter months, the temperature may be too cold. We cannot tell what kind of fern this is, but it likely should be brought indoors when temperatures dip below 32 degrees F. where there is bright indirect light. Also most ferns do best when watered regularly but do not allow plant to sit in water as this may lead to root rot. And since they prefer high humidity, set up a saucer, fill with gravel, fill with water and set a brick on it, then place the plant on the brick. This will increase humidity around the plant by 70%. And feed with a slow-release or organic fertilizer formulated for container plants. Hope this helps.