Horsetail is kept in the garden as an ornamental plant near ponds. Some species can also be grown in containers. The care is not complicated because horsetail is a very robust plant that quickly forgives any care mistakes.
How do I care for horsetail properly?
When caring for horsetail, make sure that the plant does not dry out, is watered with rain or pond water if possible and is occasionally fertilized in the pot or bucket. In spring the shoots should be cut back and runners removed. Horsetail is hardy and may only need a windbreak.
How do you water horsetail correctly?
Watering horsetail is only necessary if you grow it in a pot like Japanese horsetail. There you have to make sure that the plant does not dry out.
Use rainwater for watering if possible.
Does horsetail need fertilizer?
Horsetail is not demanding if it grows directly on the edge of a swampy pond. Here you don't have to fertilize at all.
If the horsetail is grown in a pot or bucket, you should water it with pond water if possible to provide it with nutrients. If there is no pond water, provide the plant with liquid fertilizer (€19.00 on Amazon) for aquatic plants.
When is cutting horsetail necessary?
Horsetail varieties for ponds are evergreen. Especially in winter, their green color makes them very decorative. That's why they are not cut in autumn:
- Pruning in spring
- Cut off runners
- Think out plants occasionally and make them smaller.
However, you should cut the horsetail in spring so that the plant has room for new shoots.
Because horsetail tends to spread widely, you should pull out runners and occasionally trim the stems at the outer edge.
What diseases and pests can occur?
Diseases and pests hardly bother the horsetail. If the long stems fall over, it is usually because the wind is too strong.
On the contrary, horsetail broth can be used to effectively combat fungal diseases on roses and other plants. The broth also works against pests.
Horsetail manure is a natural fertilizer that provides ornamental plants with many important nutrients.
How is horsetail overwintered?
Horsetail is generally hardy. The rhizomes are so deep in the ground that only very strong frost can harm them.
However, experts recommend covering horsetail on the pond with leaves and brushwood as a precaution.
If horsetail is grown in a pot, it must be overwintered frost-free. To do this, place the container on an insulating surface and cover it with bubble wrap. Make sure that the plant does not dry out completely.
Tip
All horsetail species are perennial. They should generally not be transplanted. However, ensure there is wind protection as the stems bend easily.
