Horsetail Herb (BD 508) | Instructions for Use
For preventing or controlling fungus diseases.
One unit (1.5 ounces) of dried herb makes 2 gallons of fresh tea, enough to treat one acre, or 10 gallons of fermented tea, enough to treat 3 acres..
Fresh Tea (ideal for spraying on foliage):
- Bring one unit of horsetail herb to a boil in one quart of water; simmer gently for 1 hour. Allow to cool.
- Strain and dilute adding 2 gallons of water.
- Stir vigorously for 20 minutes.
- Pour the mixture through a paint strainer, and apply using a fine mist spray to the foliar parts of targeted plants.
Fermented Tea (ideal for spraying on soil):
- Bring one unit of horsetail herb to boil in one gallon of water and simmer for one hour. Let cool and transfer to a crock or other storage container with a loose fitting lid.
- Store this in a cool place, e.g. basement, and allow fermenting 10 to 14 days, until the fermented tea has a strong sulfuric aroma.
- Pour through a paint strainer into a glass jug and store in a cool dark place until ready to use. It can be stored for 6 or more months without losing effectiveness.
- Add 1/2 gallon of fermented tea to 4 1/2 gallons water, stir vigorously for 20 minutes, and use to treat up to 1 1/2 acres. Ratio for diluting is one part fermented tea to 9 parts water. The fermented BD 508 most likely should be applied as a soil spray, whereas the fresh tea version is most likely the form to use as a foliar spray.