Logo Encyclo-Fish
francais anglais

Pond   Plants

Horsetail
(Equisetum hyemale et E. japonica)

Horsetail

Alternative species (click on the thumbnail to see the card)

  • None

Names

Scientific name
Equisetum hyemale
Equisetum hyemale japonica

Common name
Horsetail
Snake grass
Puzzlegrass

Origin

what are his countries of origin?

Origin: Cameroon, Gabon

Ideal fertilization

how to fertilize this plant?

No data

Group

which group is this plant?

Equisetaceae

Kind

what is the type of plant?

Rhizome

Parameters

What are the Water parameters for the maintenance of this plant?

T°: supports -10°C or 14°F
pH: 5 to 8
Hardness: No data

Difficulty

difficulty

Easy

Lighting

what brightness is needed?

Average

Size

what is the maximum size of the plant?

100 cm (40")

Plantation

in which area of the aquarium install this plant?

Bank and pond

Growth

how fast does this plant grow?

Fast

Presentation

Who is the Horsetail?

Presentation

Who is the Horsetail?

This plant, exclusively reserved for outdoor ponds, is easy and rustic. It is in the form of a long hollow stem with black nodes. It is a perennial that does not looses its leaves in the winter. It can be associated with a massif to give visual structure and contrast around a pond. Finally, note that this is not a flowering plant.

Planting and maintenance

How to plant and maintain the Horsetail?

Planting and maintenance

How to plant and maintain the Horsetail?

It is planted near the pond, in a constantly wet soil, or directly in the pond, immersed at 5 cm or 2 inches (immersion tolerance ranging from 0 to 10 cm or 0 to 4 inches). The soil should be moderately rich and if possible with an acid tendency (potting soil for aquatic plants). The presence of cilice (clay) is also recommended.

Plant it in a well-defined area so that it does not over-invade your pond (use a tray, pot, root barrier...). In addition, it multiplies the stems in the same place which will be prettier. Allow 3 to 5 feet per m2 for a good base.

It will enjoy a sunny exposure to partial shade.

It resists cold and does not fear freezing. It should only be protected in case of temperature below -10°C or 14°F.

Finally, it does not require any size. However, remove the dry stems regularly.

Farming

How to farm the Horsetail?

Farming

How to farm the Horsetail?

They may tend to become invasive.

They can be farmed in two ways: either by a sexual farming, which takes place via a small yellowish cone that appears at the end of some stems (the spores are then spread in the water on rainy days), or by asexual farming by branching rhizomes.

We must therefore avoid planting them in open ground in places that promote their unlimited expansion. To overcome this multiplication, install a root barrier or leave it in a pot or tray. Indeed, it supports this type of maintenance perfectly and it will allow you to control it as you wish.

Good To know

Find all additional information!

Good To know

Find all additional information!

They are very old plants (400 million years old) and were used for a long time as medicinal plants.

Another advantage of this plant: no harmful insect is interested!

There are 25 varieties. Some examples:

  • Equisetum hyemale with an average height of 0.6 meters or 2 ft. To plant in wet or pond environment.

  • Equisetum japonicum or Equisetum hyemale japonicum with an average height of 0. meters or 3 ft. To plant in a humid environment or in a pond. It is semi-persistent and may lose its leaves in very cold winter.

  • Equisetum hyemale var robustum with an average height of 1.2 meters or 4 ft. To plant in a humid environment (prefers not to be covered with water).

  • Equisetum scirpoides with an average height of 15 cm or 6 inches, but the many stems can spread out 20 cm or 8 inches wide. To plant in humid environment or in basin (immersion to 10 cm or 4 inches possible).

  • Equisetum camtschatcense from a height of 1.2 to 1.5 meters or 4 to 5 ft. To plant in a humid environment. More resistant to drought than other horsetails.

  • Equisetum fluviatile from a height of 40 to 60 cm or 16 to 24 inches. To plant in a humid environment or in a pond.

  • Equisetum telmateia with an average height of 1.2 meters or 4 ft. To plant in a humid environment.

  • Equisetum americanum with an average height of 1.8 meters or 6 ft. To plant in a humid environment or in a pond.

Yours photos!

Comments

Sort by:

Please login to post comments

back to the top