To the chagrin of many gardeners, horsetail propagation works so well that the plant quickly overgrows beds, lawns and even paths. If horsetail is to be propagated in order to obtain new plants, no gardening skills are required.
How is horsetail propagated?
Horsetail reproduces by spores that ripen in ear shoots and are spread by the wind, as well as by underground rhizomes that grow as runners up to two meters below the surface of the earth. Plants can arise from division of the rhizomes or from nearby cuttings.
How horsetail reproduces
Horsetail reproduces in two ways, via spores and via underground rhizomes.
Like all plants belonging to the fern family, horsetail does not form a flower in which seeds ripen after fertilization. Horsetail reproduces through spores that mature in ear shoots. They are propagated by the wind, so new plants populate nearby.
Reproduction via rhizomes occurs through runners that the horsetail shoots up to two meters below the surface of the earth. Controlling horsetail is very difficult because the runners cannot be easily dug up. New plants also form from small residues that were overlooked during removal.
Propagate horsetail for pond or container planting
If you want to propagate offshoots from existing horsetails, all you have to do is wait. After a short time, new plants will appear nearby that you simply have to dig up.
Of course, you can also propagate horsetail by dividing the rhizomes. To do this, take the plant out of the ground and cut off a piece of the root. This is simply replanted at the desired location.
Grow horsetail in the pot, propagate the plant when repotting. You have to divide horsetail more often anyway because otherwise it becomes too big and sprawling.
Stop the proliferation of horsetail
Fighting horsetail is much more difficult than propagating it. To prevent the plant from spreading uncontrollably in the garden, you should carry out the following measures as soon as possible:
- Plant horsetail only with a root barrier
- Put the pond horsetail in the pond basket
- Always cut off spore ears immediately in spring
- Pluck out green shoots immediately
- Pull flat rhizomes out of the ground.
Tip
Due to its rapid reproduction, horsetail is called a super weed. The herb cannot be permanently removed from the garden, even by chemical means. You should therefore be careful when planting horsetail species in the garden.