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Cinnamon for Plants – Benefits and Uses In The Garden

In the world of gardening, there’s a delightful spice hiding in your kitchen that can do wonders for your plants while bidding farewell to pesky insects. It’s cinnamon, and its benefits go far beyond the culinary realm. From protecting your beloved plants to nurturing their growth, discover the fantastic uses of cinnamon in this article. Get ready to sprinkle, sprinkle, and watch your garden thrive! If you want to know what cinnamon is good for plants, join us in this article in which we detail the benefits of cinnamon for plants and how to use it correctly.

Cinnamon is a spice native to Sri Lanka and widely used in many cuisines, including ours: the Mediterranean. Its unmistakable scent and flavor are seductive, and it is also an ingredient of proven and numerous health benefits.

However, cinnamon is not only beneficial for us. It can also be beneficial for your plants. Its beneficial properties are many, and besides being cheaper than many laboratory-made products, it is completely ecological and natural.

Cinnamon for Plants As a Fungicide

One of the main benefits of cinnamon for plants is its use as an antifungal. In the spring and early summer, when temperatures start to rise, and there is still a lot of humidity in the environment, it is common for some plants and crops to suffer from fungal attacks, especially in areas with little airflow or ventilation.

If you see the characteristic black or white spots or coating on your plants, whether on leaves, stems, or soil, reach for the cinnamon powder we all have at home. Gently sprinkle the cinnamon powder on the parts affected by the fungus. If, after 48 to 72 hours, the fungus has not disappeared, you should repeat the application without fear: cinnamon will not harm the plant. Quite the contrary.

Cinnamon to Get Rid of Ants

Ants can become a worrying pest because when they arrive in large numbers, they tend to be accompanied by the fungi that they grow and carry. If ants are a pest and, therefore, a problem in your garden or orchard and are being seen in large numbers, cinnamon may once again be the solution.

This spice acts as a powerful repellent not only for ants but also for all kinds of insects harmful to plants, such as flies and mosquitoes. It is enough, again, to sprinkle some cinnamon powder in the area where we want to prevent them from appearing, and they will look for other areas without that smell that they dislike so much.

get rid of ants with cinnamon

Cinnamon for Cuttings

Taking a cutting from a plant is a task that always involves some risk of failure, even in those species where cuttings tend to root successfully. A good way to maximize the chances of the cutting developing into a healthy new plant is to use rooting hormone or a natural rooting agent, which will stimulate root growth at the base of the stem. Cinnamon, of course, can act as a rooting agent, 100% ecological and cheaper than chemical preparations.

To prepare a homemade cinnamon rooting agent, you should add a tablespoon of cinnamon powder to half a liter of water, to which you should also add two crushed or ground aspirin. Stir well and let the mixture stand for at least half a day, then strain it from coarse residues. Soak the lower part of the cuttings in this mixture for a couple of hours before planting them, and you will soon see how much easier it is for your cuttings to take root.

Learn more about Homemade Rooting Hormones.

Cinnamon for Plants After Pruning

Pruning is a necessary process but also an aggressive one for plants. Even when it is carried out with properly disinfected and well-sharpened tools, we run the risk that the wounds generated are an entry point for diseases or pests.

For this reason, some species require the application of sealing paste on the pruned areas. You should make your paste with melted candle wax, to which you should add cinnamon powder to improve its antifungal and antibacterial properties. You should apply still liquid but not too hot on the pruning wound so that it solidifies on it and seals it. It is also possible to apply it directly in powder form on small wounds: it will not seal them, but it will help the plant to heal faster.

cinnamon for plants after pruning
Cinnamon for Plants After Pruning

Cinnamon As an Animal Repellent

We have already mentioned that this spice is an effective insect repellent, but its action is not limited to insects. Small mammals such as rabbits, moles, or squirrels will also flee from it, as it causes an annoying irritation in the mucous membranes of the nose and mouth that, without causing any severe or permanent damage, will make them avoid the place.

How To Use Cinnamon for Plants

In all the uses that we have specified, it is enough to use cinnamon powder on the plants or the area of the garden that we want to protect. Crushed finely, it will have the desired effect ecologically. We use organic cinnamon in our plants (Order it here).

It is also possible to make cinnamon tea for use in watering plants. To do this, heat a liter of water gently and add a tablespoon of cinnamon powder to it. Stir well with the fire at a minimum until the cinnamon is completely dissolved, and let it cool about 10-12 hours later.

how to use cinnamon for plants

About Henry Morgan

Henry Morgan is an agronomist horticulture founder of The Garden Style Company and The Garden Style Website. He previously worked for Mondelēz International as an Agronomist Engineer specializing in agricultural products management in highly populated areas. In 2000, Henry started working with farmer-producers in agricultural businesses selling wholesale fresh produce and retail plants in Van Buren, Arkansas. Nowadays, Henry lives in California, where he offers expert consulting services for organic vegetable gardening. As a science writer working with his wife, Julia, Henry shares his passion for gardening and farming, trying to reach and teach as many folks as possible.

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