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How To Use Cinnamon In Gardens & Flowerbeds – Help Your Plants & Soil!

Did you know that cinnamon can help keep the soil and plants in your flowerbeds and vegetable gardens healthy? Not only that, but this all-natural culinary ingredient can also help drive pests and disease away too!

Cinnamon has long been known to provide a wide array of benefits to humans. As both an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agent, consuming this delicious spice can help the human body in a variety of ways.

But many of the same positive qualities in cinnamon that aid humans can also help your plants to a healthier life. And that is exactly the focus of today’s article!

ground cinnamon - benefits
Cinnamon provides a whole array of natural benefits to soil and plants. This spice can also be used to repel common household plant pests.

Cinnamon has been used dating back for centuries in the agricultural world. Its natural powers range far and wide when it comes to both helping things grow, and keeping them safe from disease and pests.

With that in mind, here are 6 great ways to use cinnamon to help you grow better this year – naturally!

6 Great Ways To Use Cinnamon In Gardens, Flowerbeds & More!

#1 Using Cinnamon To Heal Plant Cuts

Cinnamon’s anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties make it wonderful for using as a wound sealant for plants. When pruning off large branches, dip the open cut into cinnamon to help seal and protect the open wound.

Likewise, if a branch or stem sustains damage, applying cinnamon to the area can help to heal the plant, all while protecting the damaged area from disease or fungus.

The sap will usually adhere to the cinnamon with ease, however, you can add a bit of water to the cinnamon to form a paste that will stick to the open cut with ease.

#2 – Using Cinnamon To Deter Rabbits, Squirrels, Chipmunks & Mice

When it comes to protecting potted plants and containers from rabbits, squirrels and more, cinnamon is an excellent solution.

squirrels and cinnamon
Squirrels do not like the smell or taste of cinnamon. By sprinkling ground cinnamon around plants, pots and containers, it can help to keep these pests far away. Some bird lovers even put a bit of cinnamon around their bird feeders to help keep squirrels away.

The scent of cinnamon is offensive to a long list of animals. By strategically sprinkling cinnamon around the edge of containers and baskets, most pests will simply leave it alone and move on.

Even with its strong smell, cinnamon will not cause any harm to the plants. In fact, not only will it not injure plants, its antibacterial qualities can also help to prevent mold or mildew from appearing on the soil surface as well, further protecting the plants.

#3 – Prevent Damping Off – How To Use Cinnamon In Gardens & Flowerbeds

Damping off is a disease that can kill young seedlings in the blink of an eye. It can be quite common for those who raise transplants indoors from seed.

When the soil is overly moist, it can create favorable conditions for fungus to develop. Fungus that then spreads easily to the seedlings. The good news is that cinnamon can help prevent the fungus fairly easily with a simple, two-pronged approach.

To use cinnamon as a damping-off agent, mix one tablespoon of cinnamon powder with half a quart of water. In essence, you are creating your very own anti-fungal solution – one that is completely organic and natural.

seedlings - how to use cinnamon to protect plants
Sprinkling cinnamon on the soil of seedling trays can help keep them from damping off.

To use, pour the solution over the soil bed where you plant your seedlings. Next, sprinkle a light coating of ground cinnamon on the surface of the soil. The combination of the two will allow your seedlings to grow without worry of the deadly fungus developing.

#4 – Repelling Ants – How To Use Cinnamon In Gardens & Flowerbeds

Much as with small animals, cinnamon can also be a great all-natural solution to repel ants too. It’s pungent scent will help to repel ants in the garden, on flowering annual and perennials, or anywhere you use it. (See: How To Repel Ants On Plants)

Ants are not fond of cinnamon powder in the least. In fact, they will go out of their way to avoid it! To protect plants, sprinkle cinnamon around the base of the plant. For a large bedding or area of plants, sprinkle it all throughout the soil, and then around the outer edge of the bed.

If ants are a problem in raised beds, you can also mix the cinnamon directly into the soil to keep them from creating their tunnels in the space. This can also work if you happen to have ants in your child’s sandbox. Simply mix in cinnamon with the sand to keep them far away.

For in-home protection, sprinkle cinnamon at door or entry points. You can also use cinnamon sticks for this purpose as the strong smell of the spice will keep them moving on.

#5 Prevent Mold / Algae On Potted Plants & Houseplants – How To Use Cinnamon In Gardens & Flowerbeds

Many potted plants, hanging baskets and houseplants will have mold form on the top of their soil. This is caused by an overabundance of moisture, along with the many minerals that can often be present in potting soils or from fertilizers that are being applied to them.

Not only is the mold and algae unsightly, it can also harm the plants. The easy fix? Sprinkling ground cinnamon or cinnamon powder on the soil surface. It will kill fungi, mold and algae in a flash!

mold on potted plants
Mold and fungus on the top of potted plants can be eliminated by sprinkling cinnamon on the top of the soil.

When first planting or repotting houseplants and outdoor container plants, you can also mix cinnamon powder into the soil to help prevent mold and fungus from the start. In addition to helping ward of mold, the cinnamon has the added benefit of helping the roots of plants grow better as well.

#6 Cinnamon As A Rooting Agent – How To Use Cinnamon In Gardens & Flowerbeds

Cinnamon’s natural fungicidal properties are also extremely helpful when rooting new cuttings. Cinnamon is like sulfur in that it acts beneficially to the spores that prevent stem cuttings from rotting.

But it also helps those cuttings root and grow better. Cinnamon is proven to bring twice the growth of a stem cutting when it is mixed with rooting hormones.

To use as a rooting hormone, pour a spoonful of cinnamon powder on a small plate or hard surface. Next, dampen the ends of your cuttings and place into the cinnamon powder. The coating of cinnamon will protect the exposed roots from fungi, and help with root growth activity.

The organic contents of cinnamon are perfect for increasing the root growth of plants. This spice’s auxin content works to help the stem cuttings or seedlings sustain growth, all while protecting the plant with its antimicrobial and anti-bacterial qualities.

Here is to using the power of cinnamon to help heal and protect your plants this year!

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