Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

View of the stems of Equisetum arvense

Image – Wikimedia / Alex Lomas

The Equisetum arvense It is one of the species that goes by the name of horsetail. It is a very fast growing plant, perfect for growing in ponds and even in pots without holes, since its height is rather low.

Although it does not produce ornamental flowers, its bearing and the shape of its leaves make it a very interesting idea to have it around. What’s more, It is so easy to take care of that it is probably hard to believe .

Origin and characteristics

View of the Equisetum arvense

Image – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Our protagonist is a plant native to the east coast of the Spanish coast, except in the Valencian Community, and also from the island of Mallorca, in the Balearic archipelago. It is popularly known as Horse tail, horsetail, rat tail, silver cleaner, hundred knuckles or candalilo. It grows as a rhizomatous perennial shrub near freshwater streams, reaching a maximum height of 50 centimeters.

Its stems are thin, and can be sterile or fertile, the latter being shorter and somewhat more succulent than the former. The leaves are linear, green in color. And it blooms in spring.

What are the care of the Equisetum arvense?

The leaves of the Equisetum arvense are green

Image – Wikimedia Commons / MPF

Do you want to know how this beautiful plant is cared for? Take note:

Location

You have to have it outside, in full sun. In semi-shadow it has a poorer development.

It could also be enjoyed at home, as long as it is in a very bright room such as an interior patio for example, but it is not ideal.

Earth

It depends on where you have it:

  • Flower pot: uses universal growing medium (for sale here!), but put a layer of clay first (on sale here!) or volcanic clay (for sale here!).
  • the garden: grows in limestone soils, well drained.

Irrigation

Very frequent. Being semi-aquatic, the soil or substrate must always be moist. If you have it in a pot, you can put a plate -or a pot without holes- and fill it, or plant it directly in a rubber bucket that gardeners use a lot, of this type:

I can tell you that I have a papyrusCyperus papyrus) in a bucket of those and grows luxurious, so the Equisetum arvensehaving very similar needs I am convinced that it will also make you precious.

Subscriber

View of the flowers of the Equisetum arvense

As important as the water is the subscriber. No plant can live only with its thirst quenched. But beware, you should not use just any fertilizer, since having medicinal properties it is possible that, sooner or later, you want to take advantage of its benefits. Organic fertilizers are the best in these casesas they do not pose any danger to humans.

Therefore, we advise you to use, for example, the guano (here! you have it in powder and here! liquid), compost, mulch (for sale here!), egg and banana peels, etc.

Planting or transplanting time

In springwhen the risk of frost has passed and the minimum temperature remains above 10-15 degrees Celsius.

Multiplication

The Equisetum arvense multiplies by division of rhizomes in spring. To do this, you have to dig up its roots a bit and with a previously disinfected knife cut a piece, which will be planted in a pot or elsewhere in the garden.

Plagues and diseases

It has no reason to make it so easy to maintain 😉.

Rusticity

It resists frosts of up to -12ºC. If you live in a colder area, protect it in a greenhouse or indoors.

Greenhouse

Related article:

Types of greenhouses: which one do I choose?

What uses does it have?

Ornamental

It is a very decorative plant, perfect to have in pots, ponds, or in the garden if you receive plenty of water. It is the right size to be used as a border or delimiter plant, but also to stand out on a balcony, patio or terrace.

Medicinal

Equisetum arvense is a medicinal plant

Horsetail has diuretic, healing and topical propertieswhich means that it increases the elimination of urine, helps to close -surface- wounds, and it has also been used to alleviate the symptoms of arthritis, osteoarthritis, tuberculosis and kidney problems.

In order to benefit from it, you must use the stems and leaves in infusion, although today they sell creams, pills and even smoothies.

Important: you may have read or read somewhere that can also be used for stones, be they kidney or gallbladder. But you have to know that no treatment should be started without first consulting a doctor. You don’t play with health (or you shouldn’t play). He thinks that for example calculations, that is, stones, are a very serious matter.

It is enough to take something so that, yes, they break, but once broken they go through conduits that they should not. If that happens, you would have a much bigger problem (for example, in the case of gallstones, one of those could go into the pancreas and cause pancreatitis).

With this in mind, we only recommend its use for minor problems.

What did you think of the Equisetum arvense?

Horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

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