Yippee, sounds like you planted it at the right depth. The crown should be peaking out above the soil. Ostrich ferns like wet conditions, so you could probably get away with having the crow a little under the soil level, but in general, many ferns will not like that...their crown will rot if constantly wet.

About the fronds not opening: it could be that it's putting all of its energy into runners. The Ostrich fern will colinize an area by sending out runners (a creaping rhizome). If yours is doing that, when it bumps into the pot wall it will turn up and you'll see a new crown start to peak out at you.

Another possibility is it needs a rest. I've noticed some ferns push up all of their new fronds in the spring, and then no more or very few the rest of the year. So maybe after it rests this winter, it will open up the following Spring.

From the fotos it looks healthy green. Give it some time, and I think it'll be fine...

Mark

Thanks for your post! That makes sense what you said about the crowns not wanting to be too far below soil level, or else they might rot.

What about the fact that all my fully-grown fronds (many about 3' in length) are more horizontal than vertical? Is that normal? On one hand I suppose it is, since 3' is alot for a plant to hold up vertically. But on the other hand if the stems are strong enough, maybe that shouldn't be a problem. I was just a little disappointed, as I would have preferred the fronds to be more vertical... it would make the plant more "impressive" looking, and also fuller. Now it just looks like a bunch of vertical fronds, with the very center of the plant looking rather "empty", cuz all the fronds are leaning out to the sides of the pot.

Tx!