How cinnamon boosts indoor plant health
What's the story
Cinnamon is not just a favorite spice in the kitchen, it also comes with a host of benefits for indoor plant care. Its natural properties can help boost plant health and growth, making it a must-have in your gardening arsenal. From serving as a natural pesticide to aiding root development, cinnamon can be an effective and inexpensive remedy for all plant-related problems. Here are five ways how cinnamon can benefit your indoor plants.
Tip 1
Natural pest deterrent
Thanks to its strong scent and antifungal properties, cinnamon also serves as a natural pest deterrent. Sprinkling some cinnamon around the base of your plants can keep ants, gnats, and other pests at bay without having to resort to chemical pesticides. This is especially handy for indoor plants where the use of chemicals may not be ideal or harmful to pets and kids.
Tip 2
Promotes root development
Cinnamon can promote root development in cuttings, by acting as a rooting hormone substitute. While propagating plants, dipping the cut end of the cutting into cinnamon powder, before planting it in soil, can encourage faster root growth. This simple step helps increase the success rate of propagation efforts without additional costs.
Tip 3
Prevents fungal diseases
Fungal diseases are common woes of indoor plants, usually due to overwatering or bad air circulation. Thanks to cinnamon's antifungal properties, it is an effective solution against such diseases. Simply dusting cinnamon powder on affected areas can help tame fungal infections such as damping-off disease, which affect seedlings.
Tip 4
Heals plant wounds
When pruning or accidentally damaging a plant, applying cinnamon on the wound site can greatly assist in its healing process and prevent potential infections. The antimicrobial properties of cinnamon are key to protecting these open wounds from various pathogens. These pathogens, if left unchecked, could cause further damage or disease to the plant. This simple yet effective use of cinnamon ensures indoor plants' longevity and health.
Tip 5
Enhances soil health
Adding cinnamon to potting soil can improve your soil health by reducing mold growth on the surface of damp soil. A light dusting of cinnamon on top of the potting mix helps keep healthier conditions for roots of your plants by minimizing the ability of mold spores to thrive in moist conditions.