Hey Bonnie...Horsetail reed, or scouring rush, or Equisetum is an attractive plant, but I have to admit, not one of my favorites. :) The only reason why is because it can be so invasive. Regardless, I will push my emotions to the side and give you an honest answer. These are bog plants, although they can survive short periods of drought. I am assuming that you are asking how to prevent the tops of the stems from snapping and falling (this is often called "lodging"). I would recommend pruning the lodged stems all the way to the ground. Don't worry about doing too much damage to the plant. Horsetails have underground stems where the aerial stems will grow back from. When you prune high on the aerial stem, you will cause the the aerial stem to branch. When it branches it is more likely to become top-heavy and lodge. Also, if the aerial stems are damaged, this too can cause the stem to branch out and make the problem worse. I would provide the plants with plenty of water...they can survive being submerged in water. Additionally, they have a high concentration of silica in them, which gives the cell walls some strength. (Rumor has it that early colonists used scouring rush to scour their pans. The high concentration of silica gives it the properties that make it strong and scratchy.) The silica allows for the aerial stems to grow tall and have a long life. If you feel that you need to supplement your horsetail with silica you can compost the broken horsetail stems (also grass clippings; grass uses silica much like horsetails). This compost can be used to provide silica to the rootzone of the plant. I hope this is helpful. Happy Gardening!!! Robby
