Cinnamon makes so many foods taste better, and its warm scent brings a nice aroma to a room. More than a yummy spice, it’s also used for health, beauty, and household purposes.

In gardening circles, cinnamon is known to thwart many types of plant threats. Whether it’s used outdoors or indoors, the herb has properties that protect, heal, and kill. Below we have outlined seven ways you can use cinnamon to make your green thumb life easier.

Any member of the cinnamon family will do when it comes to plant work, so feel free to grab the Ceylon or its cassia cousin to get the job done.

1. Plant Wound Weaver

   Snapped plant stems and accidental tears happen. You can heal your poor plant’s wound by dusting the site with a little cinnamon powder.

2. Bug Battler

   Ants, gnats, and mosquitoes don’t like the smell of cinnamon (and word is that squirrels aren’t fans either). To keep them away from your harvest or yard hangouts, spread some powder where you see a concentration of them or on their pathway.

   You can also make a spray using 20-25 drops of cassia or cinnamon essential oil diluted in 1-2 cups of water. Spritz onto gnats, aphids, and mosquitoes to zap them, but be careful not to get the spray in your face or eyes!

3. Fungi Fighter

   If you’ve noticed spots of fungus growing on your plant’s leaves, you can kill the infection with cinnamon. Mix up a spray using 3-4 tablespoons of powdered cinnamon with 1-2 quarts of warm water. Let it sit overnight, then strain it, using the leftover liquid as your spray no more than twice a week. You can also use this mixture as fungus prevention.

   For orchid fungus control, use a few pinches of powder on the plant’s leaves.

4. Mushroom Killer

   Got wild ‘shrooms growing in your lawn or garden? Beat them off with a round of cinnamon powder. Once you’ve plucked this fungus from the earth, give the area(s) a generous sprinkling of cinnamon.

5. Bug Bite Treatment

   Make a paste of cinnamon and honey to relieve itching from bug bites. Both ingredients will also ward off any infection caused by the bite.

6. Root Helper

   Protect your plant cuttings from decay and bacteria by dipping the cut ends in cinnamon. Plant them in fresh soil. The roots will grow without interference from disease once you plant them.

   With roses, gardeners say the powder is especially noteworthy for propagating new roots from cut stems. You can keep growing your own favorite varieties without having to buy new ones!

7. Seedling Nurturer

   Damping off of seedlings can bring mold or fungus to baby plants, killing them before they get a chance to bloom. To keep things healthy, there are a few ways you can use cinnamon. Sprinkle powdered cinnamon into your soil before planting to prevent disease.

   As a maintenance measure, you can also water your seedlings with a cinnamon tea. Simmer 1 or 2 cinnamon sticks in 1-2 cups of water. Allow it to cool completely before watering and to stave off damping.

On top of being good for your garden, cinnamon is safe for kids. Some folks also scatter it in outdoor play areas or fountains to keep pests and their larvae away. If you decide to use an oil version, be sure not to let it touch your skin!

What other ways do you use cinnamon around the house? Were you already using it in your garden?

Source:
Luv2Garden