Growing the Hardy, Carefree Horsetail

Horsetail is very simple to plant, you can plant them anywhere, and they require no special nutrients. They can survive in hardiness zones 3 through 11 (depending on the variety) and don't mind a water-logged environment. They're the perfect option for areas of your garden where other plants won't survive, such as spots with poor drainage or low soil quality.

Horsetails prefer a spot with some sun exposure. That being said, they're capable of growing in areas ranging from full sun to deep shade. These plants like to have their soil kept at least moderately wet, and they are essentially impossible to overwater since they can survive in multiple inches of standing water.

Horsetail will grow in virtually any soil quality; they are often found in ditches, bogs, and swamps. They thrive in a slightly acidic soil, which can be achieved by mixing peat moss into your soil. Fertilizing horsetail is not necessary, but if you want to maximize your plant's growth, occasionally apply fertilizer for pond or bog plants.

Horsetail is extremely easy to propagate. Dig up a few plants and transplant them elsewhere, and they will be spreading before you know it. Horsetail spreads by rhizomes and do so rather invasively; generally speaking, it is harder to control a horsetail plant's growth than it is to propagate it.

Keeping your horsetail in a container is a good way of ensuring it doesn't extend beyond where you want it to be. Horsetail will fill any container size and grows well in rich potting soil. Despite being a drought-resistant plant, your horsetail will enjoy occasional watering. Simply water the potted plants every so often; that's all it will need — no fertilization or upkeep necessary.

Yet another perk of the horsetail plant is that it is pest and disease-free. The rapid spread of the horsetail means it is much more commonly considered a pest itself than it is affected by them. However, they can also be considered a pest because they are poisonous to some animals, such as horses and cattle, so be mindful of this when planting your crop.

Because horsetails are so easy to grow and spread, it is important to have a plan in mind to keep them where you want them.  Container planting is one good spread-limiting plan. This can be done in an above-ground container or one that you later bury in the ground — just make sure the container's edges remain slightly above the surrounding soil level. Planting your horsetail with a plastic barrier lining is another effective way to prevent unwanted spread.

The biggest difference between horsetail varieties is their height. The tallest variety, Giant Horsetail, can grow beyond 10 feet. The most common, Equisetum Arvense, commonly called field horsetail, generally reaches around 8 inches in height but can get closer to two feet in favorable conditions.

Color is another way in which horsetail subspecies vary. Variegated horsetail, for example, has a distinct black and white coloring and reaches only about 18 inches. Water horsetail has hollow, slender stems and a deep emerald color. This variety can reach nearly four feet and have uniquely corrugated stems.

Although poisonous to some animals, horsetail is edible for humans. Young horsetail shoots can be picked and eaten like asparagus and more mature stems can be used to make tea. As horsetail matures, it develops silica in the stems; some people use these mature plants as scouring brushes for cleaning pots and pans.