How to Dry Horsetail

Cut all of the horsetails to an even length using sharp scissors. Make the cut across the bottom of the stems rather than at the top.

Cut a 12-inch section of nylon rope. Use a 4-inch section at one end of the rope to tie an overhand knot, making a small loop.

Separate a bundle of horsetails approximately 2 inches in diameter and lay them on a flat surface.

Tie the open end of the nylon rope around the trimmed ends of the horsetail bundle in a tight, firm knot. If the knot is not tight enough, the horsetails will fall from the bundle during the drying process.

Hang the bundle of horsetails from a hook or nail in a dark and dry space, such as a closet, using the looped end of the rope. According to Samuel Thayer, author of "The Forager's Harvest," you should dry the plants in a space that stays between 70 and 100 degrees.

Allow the bundle to dry undisturbed for 10 days.

Put on the rubber gloves and breathing mask before proceeding. Dry horsetail sheds sharp silica dust that is irritating to the lungs.

Check on the horsetail bundle. The stalks should be dry and cracking slightly. Carefully remove the bundle from the hook. If the stalks are still moist, leave them for five more days to thoroughly dry.

Cut the stalks directly beneath the nylon rope to remove them from the bundle. Discard the rope as well as the remaining bits of stalks still tied to it. This portion will rot during the drying process.

Place any dried horsetail that you will not use immediately into an airtight container to preserve its freshness. According to Steve Brill and Evelyn Dean, authors of "Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places," the dried horsetail will maintain its medicinal properties for one year following the drying process.