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Cinnamon powder possesses strong antifungal characteristics and can help inhibit both white and gray mold growth.
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You have the option to apply it directly onto the plants or combine it with water in a spray bottle for use.
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A lot of typical garden pests, such as ants and mice, have an aversion to cinnamon; hence, it serves as an excellent natural repellent.
Cinnamon, a typical ingredient found in kitchens, can work miracles in your garden too. From aiding seed germination to safeguarding plants against pests and diseases, this spice proves quite versatile. Additionally, it promotes plant growth and serves as an effective natural antiseptic.
fungicide
, and pest repellent.
We spoke with an expert gardener to discover all the various ways she incorporates cinnamon into her gardening practices.
Meet the Expert
Lucie Bradley
is a specialist in gardening and greenhouses affiliated with Easy Garden Irrigation.
The Advantages of Using Cinnamon for Plant Health
- Cinnamon possesses strong antifungal characteristics, and placing this spice on plants may help ward off fungi in the soil, rust issues, as well as mushroom growth.
- To prevent fungal issues, cinnamon can also promote plant development.
- Finally, its potent smell deters numerous typical garden pests.
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Seed Care
Cinnamon can aid in seed germination since it protects young seedlings when they first emerge.
damping off
—A soilborne fungal infection. As per Lucie Bradley, an authority on gardening and greenhouses at Easy Garden Irrigation, damping off is primarily responsible for why seedlings may cease growth prior to wilting and eventually succumbing.
To apply the cinnamon, gently sprinkle some grounded cinnamon powder over the top layer of the seedling’s potting mix to help prevent fungal diseases from forming in the soil.
Natural Fungicide
There is a broad spectrum of fungal infections. These include
powdery mildew
Bradley mentions that white and gray molds such as botrytis, slime mold, and black spots can be problematic. Nevertheless, cinnamon proves effective against all these issues. To prevent these diseases, you should sprinkle the top layer of soil with ground cinnamon powder weekly.
“It can be helpful to create a cinnamon spray to cover all the stems and leaves of the affected plants,” she explains.
Mushroom Prevention
Not only does cinnamon help ward off fungal diseases, but when scattered over mulch, it can also minimize the growth of other fungi such as mushrooms.
True,
Mushrooms might indicate that your lawn is thriving and in good health.
And with regard to the soil, certain mushrooms can cause illness in pets if eaten. Thus, removing mushrooms could be advisable for your lawn’s health. Cinnamon may help deter them from growing. It particularly holds true if this powder is sprinkled in moist or shady areas, which are favored by mushrooms.
Growth Stimulant
When propagating plants using cuttings, cinnamon powder serves as an economical and efficient natural method to shield them from diseases due to its inherent antifungal characteristics.
Bradley points out that cinnamon has properties capable of promoting root development in cuttings, transforming this common kitchen ingredient into an effective aid for nurturing plants. To utilize this method, he suggests dipping the cut part of the stem into powdered cinnamon before placing it in soil. Doing so helps ward off fungal diseases, thus decreasing the likelihood of decay occurring before new roots develop, according to Bradley.
Rust Prevention
Common in gardens,
rust
Another fungal infection capable of attacking your plants is rust. This soil-dwelling disease spreads via spores and can impact all parts of a plant, even the blooms.
Marigolds and daisies are among the many common flowering plants susceptible to rust, according to Bradley. However, scattering cinnamon over the soil where these flowers grow may assist in preventing this issue. When combined with other prudent practices such as proper plant spacing and crop rotation, using this aromatic spice could significantly reduce the risk of rust affecting your blooms.
Natural Antiseptic
Cinnamon serves as an effective fungicide and can be used as a natural antiseptic for any cuts on your plants.
“If plants have suffered from excessive trimming, unintentional breaking, or harm caused by storms, they might end up with these exposed injuries,” Bradley explains.
To heal the injuries using cinnamon, simply dust the powder directly onto the affected area and smooth it out with your fingertip or a brush, according to Bradley. Alternatively, you may create a paste by scattering cinnamon onto a damp paper towel, or combine cinnamon with water in a spray bottle to facilitate spreading the spice evenly across intricate parts of the plant.
Ground Cover Aide
Cinnamon might aid in preventing mushrooms and other fungi from growing, which could consequently benefit ground covers. In the absence of these fungi competing for resources or damaging your plants, ground covers have an opportunity to thrive without hindrance.
Insect Deterrent
Cinnamon sticks can serve as an organic pest control method, shielding your plants from insects due to their potent aroma.
Bradley points out that cinnamon includes cinnamaldehyde, a substance discovered to interfere with the nervous systems of insects, which makes it challenging for them to navigate, search for food, or meet their mates.
This spice proves efficacious against mites, aphids, mosquitoes, fruit flies, common flies, and wasps. It also serves as a strong repellent for ants. When present in small quantities, ants consider
good pollinators
However, an excess could harm your plants and their roots.
“Even though cinnamon isn’t capable of eliminating ants, it is highly efficient at preventing their presence,” Bradley states.
Mice and Rat Preventative
bigger nuisances like mice and rats will be deterred by the smell since it can bother their nasal passages and mouth areas when they move along the floor, according to Bradley.
Draw a line of cinnamon powder along the areas where you want to keep walking insects like ants away, forming an obstacle they will avoid crossing.
Frequently asked Questions
Would you put cinnamon on every single one of your plants?
Certainly, that’s mostly true. Nevertheless, cinnamon may hinder the development of certain plants. Avoid using cinnamon near tomatoes, peppers, or garden cress, along with ferns, prayer plants, and orchids. Should you be concerned, apply it first to a limited section of a plant or just one plant before treating all your flora simultaneously.
Can cinnamon deter insects from attacking plants?
Cinnamon acts as an eco-friendly pest control agent due to cinnamaldehyde, a substance known for interfering with insect neural functions. This natural component helps repel various pests such as ants, fungus gnats, mites, aphids, mosquitoes, fruit flies, houseflies, and wasps without using chemicals.
Which pests does cinnamon deter?
Apart from numerous insects, creatures like mice, rats, squirrels, moles, and rabbits, which typically move near the ground level, can also be repelled by cinnamon because it aggravates their nasal passages and mouths.
Read the initial article on
The Spruce
