One of the simplest, cheapest, and most surprisingly powerful tools in your gardening arsenal.
When it comes to DIY gardening hacks, cinnamon is a secret weapon many gardeners overlook. This everyday kitchen spice is far more than just a sweet addition to your favorite treats—it’s also a natural antifungal, pest repellent, and even a rooting aid. If you’re looking to garden more naturally and cut back on synthetic chemicals, cinnamon is about to become one of your favorite tools.
This guide covers how and why to use cinnamon in the garden, including practical tips, DIY recipes, and all the ways it can support plant health, repel pests, and even prevent disease.
Why Use Cinnamon in the Garden?
Cinnamon offers a range of benefits thanks to its natural antifungal, antibacterial, and pest-repelling properties. Plus, it’s safe for kids, pets, pollinators, and beneficial insects.
Here’s what cinnamon can do for your garden:
- Prevent fungal diseases like damping off
- Deter ants and small pests
- Stop mold and mildew
- Act as a natural rooting hormone
- Heal plant wounds and pruning cuts
- Repel gnats and fungus-loving insects
- Protect seed starts
- Keep your indoor plants healthier, too!
1. Fungal Disease Prevention
One of cinnamon’s best-known uses in the garden is to prevent fungal infections—especially damping off disease. Damping off affects seedlings and can kill young plants almost overnight.
How to Use:
- Sprinkle ground cinnamon directly over seed-starting soil after sowing seeds.
- Use it again once seedlings emerge if you notice any fuzzy white mold or damp spots.
- It can also be mixed into the soil at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per cup of soil for seed trays.
2. Ant & Insect Repellent
Cinnamon’s strong aroma repels ants, gnats, mosquitoes, and some other insects. It doesn’t kill ants, but it confuses their scent trails, making them less likely to invade your garden or pots.
How to Use:
- Sprinkle a cinnamon barrier around the base of your plants, greenhouse, or garden bed.
- Use it around pet bowls, seedling trays, or indoor pots to prevent ants or gnats.
- Combine cinnamon with diatomaceous earth for a double-action natural pest defense.
3. Natural Rooting Agent
Forget store-bought rooting powders—cinnamon can help cuttings take root naturally.
How to Use:
- Moisten the end of a plant cutting.
- Dip the cut end in ground cinnamon, shaking off any excess.
- Plant the cutting in your growing medium.
- The cinnamon helps prevent rot and fungal infections while encouraging root growth.
Great for propagating:
- Basil
- Mint
- Lavender
- Tomatoes
- Houseplants
4. Wound Healer for Plants
Just like a healing balm for humans, cinnamon can help your plant recover from injuries. If you’ve pruned or broken a branch, cinnamon can seal and protect the wound from infection.
How to Use:
- After pruning, sprinkle cinnamon powder directly on the cut area.
- This creates a barrier that prevents disease and rot.
5. Keep Indoor Plants Healthy
Cinnamon is especially useful for potted houseplants that tend to suffer from fungus gnats or moldy soil.
How to Use:
- Lightly dust the surface of your potting mix with cinnamon.
- Repeat every few weeks, or after watering, if gnats or white fuzz reappear.
This works well for:
- Spider plants
- Pothos
- Snake plants
- Succulents
- Herbs grown indoors
6. Cinnamon as a Soil Additive
While not a traditional fertilizer, cinnamon’s antifungal and antibacterial properties can support healthy microbial life and prevent overgrowth of pathogens.
How to Use:
- Mix 1 teaspoon of cinnamon per gallon of soil for new beds or potted plants.
- Use cinnamon tea (see below) as a watering solution for root rot-prone plants.
DIY Cinnamon Tea Spray for Plants
A quick way to apply cinnamon broadly to foliage or soil is with this simple homemade tea.
Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 2 cups hot water
- Spray bottle
- Strainer or cheesecloth
Directions:
- Steep cinnamon in hot water for several hours (or overnight).
- Strain well to remove all particles—clogged spray bottles are no fun.
- Pour into spray bottle and use as a foliar spray or soil soak.
- Apply weekly to prevent mildew, mold, and gnats.
What Cinnamon Can’t Do
As great as cinnamon is, it’s not a cure-all. Here’s what to keep in mind:
- It won’t kill large infestations of pests like aphids or caterpillars.
- It does not fertilize your plants—combine with compost or fish emulsion for nutrition.
- Too much cinnamon can alter soil pH slightly over time—use in moderation.
Eco-Friendly Bonus
Using cinnamon in the garden means:
- No synthetic chemicals
- Safe for pets and children
- No harm to pollinators like bees and butterflies
- Cheap and readily available
- Biodegradable and compostable
Can You Use Other Types of Cinnamon?
Yes! While Ceylon cinnamon is more refined, Cassia cinnamon (which is what most grocery stores sell) works just fine for gardening purposes. Ground cinnamon is easiest to use, but cinnamon sticks can also be steeped in water to make a spray or soak.
Final Thoughts
From seed starting to pest control and plant healing, cinnamon is an all-purpose tool that every organic gardener should keep in their toolkit. It’s safe, effective, affordable, and multipurpose—a true garden MVP.
Next time you’re in your spice cabinet, grab the cinnamon shaker and take it outside. Your plants will thank you.