Can Cinnamon Harm Plants? (8 Safe Ways to Use It)

Cinnamon is not only a flavorsome spice; it is also antibacterial and antifungal, and it repels ants, mosquitoes, and even cats.

In addition to protecting plants from pests and diseases, cinnamon has many other uses. Using cinnamon in the garden and potted plants can be a rewarding experience if you follow these simple guidelines.

Cinnamon is equally beneficial to gardens and houseplants in a variety of ways. Spraying shrubs and trees with a warm solution (10 tbsp. per bucket of warm water) helps deter aphids and other pests. Sprinkle the powder between the beds to discourage mice and other rodents, and sprinkling cut branches after preemptive pruning will help protect against fungi and infections.

Cinnamon Types

Many people associate cinnamon with a fragrant spice. However, it’s worth noting that there are two types of cinnamon: one made from the properly prepared bark of the Ceylon cinnamon tree (Cinnamonum verum), and the other from the aromatic cinnamon tree, also known as Chinese cassia (Cinnamomum cassia). 

Ceylon cinnamon, which is used in cooking, is more valuable. Still, the basic properties of both types of cinnamon are the same. So, especially in powdered form, they’re sold simply as “cinnamon.”

Cinnamon’s Beneficial Properties for Plants

[1] Spices made with cinnamon are used in many different recipes worldwide, from sweets and baked goods to drinks and even meats.

[2] Numerous active substances in cinnamon’s chemical composition contribute to its beneficial properties. 

Cinnamon aldehyde, epicatechin, coumarin polyphenols, fatty acids, and vitamins are just a few of the ingredients. 

Many of the compounds have beneficial effects not only on humans but also on plants.

[3] Cinnamon also has medicinal properties, such as acting as an antifungal and antibacterial agent, suppressing putrefaction, and resisting the development of mites and viruses. 

It contains diterpene, which has insecticidal properties, making it an excellent choice for plant protection.

[4] Because of the high cost of the spice, it is more commonly used to grow houseplants and balconies. 

Cinnamon is an excellent choice for pest control if you have a potted fuchsia or citrus plant. You can either spray or water the plants with a liquid solution of cinnamon.

[5] Flower buds are susceptible to a wide range of diseases and insects. A sprinkling of cinnamon powder will increase the likelihood of the plants growing abundantly and vigorously.

How to Use Cinnamon in Garden And Potted Plants

Combating Ants With Cinnamon

The garden is home to ants, an integral part of the ecosystem. They aren’t always harmful to plants; they even do some good work, such as eating parasitic insects and loosening the soil.

They have some drawbacks, but they encourage aphids because they eat the honeydew they secrete to reward their hard work. Their species, including red ants, can bite humans and cause severe pain.

Sprinkle the spice on ant-paved trails and near plants to keep ants away from your plants and vegetables. This method will work if ant colonies are found in the garden, balconies, and houseplant pots.

Infestation with aphids is a sure sign of an increasing number of ants on garden plants. So you should try to get rid of both the ants and the aphids, which eat the cell sap of the leaves.

Cinnamon Powder For A Children’s Sandbox

If ants have entered your yard sandbox, you can quickly eliminate them by adding a few packets of cinnamon powder to the mixture. 

Ensure the child likes the smell of spice before proceeding with this. You can also use cinnamon essential oil to clean the sandbox.

Cinnamon oil is potent, so use caution when applying it to prevent contact with the skin’s surface. 

You can dilute it with warm tap water. After applying cinnamon oil to the sandbox, it is best for the child not to play there for a few hours to allow the smell to dissipate.

Cinnamon Has an Adverse Reaction In Cats

You can use cinnamon to scare ants away, but you can also scare away street cats from using flower beds and pots.

Cats find cinnamon’s scent unpleasant, and it’s not good for their health. However, cinnamon is an excellent deterrent for purrs who use the children’s sandbox or other garden parts as a toilet.

Using Cinnamon as a Plant-Rooting Hormone

Natural rooting hormone cinnamon can propagate herbaceous, woody, or semi-woody cuttings of plants such as shrubs. It will function in two ways.

• The cinnamon spice has compounds that aid in this process in root development.
• Second, it will increase the resistance of seedlings to rot, bacteria, and fungal diseases (including mold).

It’s as simple as dipping the tip of a seedling in ground cinnamon and then placing it in the ground. Proceed with caution to avoid chafing the seedlings with the cinnamon.

Also, the willow tree bark has a similar effect as a rooting agent and is worth knowing about. 

Crushed aspirin can also be combined with cinnamon for a more potent outcome.

Cinnamon Is Used To Treat Plant Injuries

Humans often use cinnamon to treat pain, itching, superficial cuts, and insect bites. 

Using the spice’s beneficial properties, you can take better care of your outdoor and container-grown flowers as well. 

Cinnamon can be helpful if a plant has been damaged (e.g., slightly broken) while being cared for.

Damage will be repaired more quickly, and fungal or bacterial diseases frequently attack the affected areas will not occur.

This often happens, especially when caring for plants with long, drooping shoots (like many balcony flowers). 

Sprinkling the wound with cinnamon powder helps to promote healing while also preventing fungal infection.

You should sprinkle cinnamon on the broken area if you propagate plants by dividing their rhizomes (irises, echinacea, phlox, and hostas). Its powder acts as a rooting agent and speeds up the healing process.

Cinnamon Against Fungal Diseases

The antifungal properties of cinnamon should be used to make natural remedies for plants, so you should use them in this way. 

Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of the spice to tempered, cool water, and stir to dissolve. Allow the solution to sit for at least one night before using it. 

You can then use it as a preventative and treatment agent for fungal diseases after straining it (for example, through absorbent cotton). 

As soon as you notice any disease symptoms, spray the leaves and stems with water.

After annual pruning, you can use cinnamon powder on fruit trees and shrubs to help keep pathogenic fungi out of the freshly pruned wounds.

If you’re grafting roses or garden trees, you’ll want to use the same method of dipping the graft into powder.

Cinnamon In Plant Pots To Prevent Mold Growth

Watering too much or using too much fertile soil can result in white or gray mold (which should not be confused with hard water sediment). 

Although it’s generally safe for plants (restricting gas exchange only in extreme cases), it’s a nuisance for plant growers and looks unappealing. 

You can find a natural and non-invasive solution to this problem for the benefit of the house and the environment.

This is a cinnamon sprinkling on the soil in the pot. Occasionally, you’ll need to repeat the process several times. 

To increase the effectiveness of the treatment, combine the cinnamon powder with the top layer of the substrate.

Several contributing factors are likely if you see mold growing on your potting soil. Overwatering, excessive humidity, overcrowding, and a lack of airflow are possible causes.

Cinnamon Help Reduce Repotting Shock

When the roots of houseplants are damaged or become root bound, they must be replanted. 

If the plant’s roots have begun to rot due to overwatering or transplanting, you must repot it. The orchid is the most common victim, but other potted plants aren’t immune. 

Decayed roots must be cut back to a clean cut before transplanting the plant into the new soil. Ideally, sprinkle dry cinnamon on the areas where the cuts have been made.

Cinnamon powder is a natural remedy, but too much can harm plants. It is best to dust the surface lightly rather than apply a thick layer of powder. You should also watch how the plants react to the spice for a while.

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