What do apple strudel and healthy seedlings have in common? Cinnamon! This fragrant spice can stop mold, promote rooting and even repel ants. And all you have to do is lightly dust the soil around the stems.
Freshly sprouted plants are literally a feast for the eyes and a source of expectation of a rich harvest, but this fragile phase of their life is also the most dangerous. A few days of excessive humidity or a lack of fresh air is all it takes, and the promising seed will begin to lie down and rot at the necks without warning. This scarecrow that gardeners call the fall of key plantscan destroy the entire future crop in a single night. Let’s leave chemical stains aside for this time, because the solution may be hiding in the spice rack. Plain ground cinnamonfor young seedlings it acts as a protection and natural medicine that has no parallel in the plant kingdom.
What can ordinary cinnamon do? Check out Slick Garden’s video on youtube:
The power against mold and fungus
Cinnamon is not only an aromatic addition to apple strudels, but in the hands of the gardener it turns into powerful fungicide. Its strength comes from its high content of cinnamaldehyde, which is the substance that not only gives cinnamon its characteristic aroma, but also for fungi and poses a mortal danger. Microscopic fungi in the ground are the main cause of the tragic death of young plants. When we dust the surface of the substrate around the young stems with a thin layer cinnamon powderwe create by antibacterial zonewhich will prevent the spread of infection without damaging the sensitive roots.
Two functions in one spice
This method is very valuable especially in domestic conditions, where we often struggle with worse air flow behind the windows. Too calm, humid air and a warm substrate create an ideal breeding ground for mold. In such an environment, cinnamon acts as a desiccant and disinfectant in one. He can stop the growth of white plaques on the surface of the substrate, which would otherwise soon start to suffocate the plants. After all, nature has plenty of ways to fight itself without needing complex man-made compounds.
It can also be used in other ways…
However, the possibilities of using cinnamon for seedlings are much wider than just the prevention of fungi. Experienced growers, for example, do not allow it even whencutting. If we need the cut part of the plant to quickly form new roots and at the same time not to rot in the place of the cut, it is enough to “soak” the end of the stem in cinnamon powder. Cinnamon in this case replaces expensive rooting stimulators. It protects the open wound of the plant from and at the same time slightly stimulates tissue to produce its own growth hormones. It is thus a helper for anyone who wants to multiply their favorite houseplants or herbs at home.
It discourages uninvited consumers
Another interesting effect of cinnamon in the garden is its ability discourage uninvited visitors, without having to kill them. Ants, which often introduce aphids into boxes with young plants, literally hate the smell of cinnamon. If we create around seeding cinnamon ringthe ants prefer to avoid it and immediately inform their friends about it. Namely, cinnamon-silicone oils disturb their scent tracksaccording to which they orient themselves. In this way, young seedlings will have peace of mind for undisturbed development without the risk of becoming a base for ant farms.
Use pure cinnamon
Using cinnamon requires no college or special equipment. Just take a spoon and gently, as if you were icing a cake, dust around the stems. It is important not to use cinnamon sugar, but really pure ground cinnamon. It gradually and naturally decomposes in the ground, so it leaves no residue. On the contrary, over time it becomes part of the organic matter in the ground and does not disturb the biological composition of the substrate in any way. This trip is extra safe for both bees, pets and growers themselves.
One teaspoon makes a big difference
Cinnamon’s availability and incredible effectiveness make it a must-have tool for any serious grower. So the next time you’re preparing bowls of soil for your first seeds, don’t forget to stand in the kitchen. That one teaspoon of fragrant powder can be just the difference between the sad sight of withered stems and the joy of a forest of strong, healthy plants, which will fill your garden with colors and flavors in summer. So good luck growing!
