Biodynamic Horsetail Preparation — Equisetum arvense (BD 508) — Spray Preparation

Dried-herb option: one unit is 1.5 ounces.

At a Glance:

What it does:
Biodynamic growers use BD 508 horsetail in foliar and soil preparations. Fresh tea is applied to foliage; fermented tea is applied to soil.

How to use:
Choose the method for your product form: prepare dried herb as fresh foliar tea or fermented soil tea; dilute ready-made fermented concentrate for soil use. Follow the separate directions below.

Ingredients:
Horsetail (Equisetum arvense).

🌾 Learn More about BD508 Horsetail (Equisetum)

Option 1: Dry Equisetum (1 unit, 1.5 oz)

Option 2: Fermented Equisetum (1 quart)

Product Details:

JPI directs fresh tea as a fine foliar mist and fermented tea as a soil spray. One 1.5-ounce dried-herb unit makes fresh tea for up to one acre or fermented concentrate that treats up to three acres after dilution.

Fresh Tea Instructions for BD 508 Bring one unit (1.5 ounces) of horsetail herb to a boil in one quart of water and simmer gently for one hour. Allow to cool. Strain and dilute by adding 2 gallons of water. Stir vigorously for 20 minutes. Apply using a fine mist spray to the foliar parts of targeted plants.

Fermented Tea Instructions for BD 508 Bring one unit or 1.5 ounces 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 to ferment for 10 to 14 days, until the fermented tea has a strong sulphuric aroma. Strain the remaining herb particles out, fill the tea in a glass jug, and store it in a cool dark place until ready to use. JPI’s directions describe storing fermented concentrate for 6 months or longer. To use, add 1/2 gallon of fermented tea to 4 1/2 gallons of water, stir vigorously for 20 minutes, and use to treat up to 1 1/2 acres. One dried-herb unit supplies enough fermented concentrate for up to 3 acres after dilution. The ratio for diluting is one part fermented tea to 9 parts water.

The fermented BD 508 should be applied as a soil spray, whereas the fresh tea version is the form used as a foliar spray.

One-quart fermented concentrate option: Dilute the full quart with 2.25 gallons (9 quarts) of water, stir vigorously for 20 minutes, and apply as a soil spray to up to 0.75 acre.

BD 508 Detailed Usage Instructions: English | Spanish | Chinese

Additional Article: BD #508 JPI Horsetail Fresh Tea and Fermented Tea Instructions, Brief Instructions: 500, 501, 508

Please note: Quantities over 1 may be bagged together.