Horsetail is kept in the garden as an ornamental plant around ponds. Some species can also be grown in pots. The care is not complex, since horsetail is a very robust plant that quickly forgives care mistakes.

Good care can be seen in the horsetail

How do you water horsetail correctly?

Watering horsetail is only necessary if you grow it in a bucket like Japanese horsetail. There you need to ensure that the plant does not dry out.

If possible, use rainwater for watering.

Does horsetail need fertilizer?

Horsetail is not demanding when growing right on a swampy pond edge. Here you don't have to fertilize at all.

If the horsetail is grown in a pot or tub, you should water it with pond water if possible to supply it with nutrients. If there is no pond water, provide the plant with liquid fertilizer for aquatic plants.

When is horsetail pruning necessary?

Horsetail varieties for the pond are evergreen. The green color makes them very decorative, especially in winter. They are therefore not cut in autumn:

  • Cut back in spring
  • Cut off runners
  • Thin out and reduce the plant occasionally.

However, you should cut the horsetail in the spring so that the plant has room for new shoots.

Since horsetail tends to spread profusely, you should pull out runners and occasionally snip off the stems at the outer edge.

What diseases and pests can occur?

Diseases and pests hardly bother the horsetail. If the long stems tip over, it is usually because the wind is too strong.

On the contrary, fungal diseases on roses and other plants can be effectively combated with horsetail broth. The broth is also effective against pests.

Horsetail manure is a natural fertilizer that provides ornamental plants with many important nutrients.

How is horsetail overwintered?

Horsetail is basically hardy. The rhizomes are so deep in the ground that only very severe frost can damage them.

However, experts recommend covering horsetail in 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 wrap it in bubble wrap. Make sure that the plant does not dry out completely.

tips

All horsetail species are perennial. In principle, they should not be transplanted. Make sure you protect yourself from the wind, as the stems bend easily.

Category:

Vegetable garden