The natural secret ingredient gardeners swear by (hint: it's hiding in your kitchen cabinet)

Contrary to popular belief, cinnamon isn't just useful for your cooking, baking, and coffee-making endeavours, but it also works a treat for your plants. Using cinnamon powder for plants harbours many benefits, from its antifungal properties to being a natural repellent to keep flies off house plants.

If you're taking a gander at improving your garden ideas or a little windowsill garden in the works and have a spare tub of cinnamon powder lying around in your kitchen cabinet, it might be worth taking it out for a spin on your green companions.

The benefits of using cinnamon powder for plants

'You can absolutely sprinkle cinnamon on your plants safely and it can actually be very beneficial in certain situations because cinnamon has natural antifungal, antibacterial, and insect-repelling properties,' assures Peter Ivanov, gardening and plant expert at Fantastic Gardeners.

1. It's a natural fungicide

'If you notice signs of fungal diseases, such as powdery mildew or damping-off, lightly dusting cinnamon powder on the affected areas can be an effective cure because its antifungal properties will help inhibit the growth and spread of the fungi,' advises Peter. 

Ash Read, founder of Indoor Plants attests to this saying, 'Years ago, my beloved succulents fell victim to a relentless white mould. Desperate for an organic solution, I turned to cinnamon.'

'Its inherent antifungal traits stalled the mould's advance, proving invaluable. Within days, the mould retreated, and my plants flourished.'

2. It keeps rodents and pests away

Luke Bartle, head gardener at Trentham Gardens says that cinnamon is also a great deterrent to keep rodents away as they don't like the taste or smell.

'The same can be said for keeping ants away from your plants or in the greenhouse,' he explains. In fact, wasps also hate the smell of cinnamon, so you ought to double up on the cinnamon sprinkling alongside your selection of plants that deter wasps.

Luke does warn, however, that every time he watered in the greenhouse, the cinnamon did wash away, so frequent top-ups may be required.

3. It's an effective natural rooting hormone

'Cinnamon can also act as a natural rooting hormone, helping with the propagation of some plant cuttings,' explains Peter. 'Sometimes, it can even help the root cutting grow twice as much, especially if it's mixed with other types of rooting hormones.'

Jack Sutcliffe, gardening expert at Power Sheds explains that it's because 'cinnamon has the ability to inhibit spores that cause rot in stem cuttings.'

'By dipping prepared plant stems in cinnamon and pushing them into the soil, it becomes an effective rooting hormone that's easy to use and inexpensive,' Jack continues.

Add that to your list of budget garden ideas to keep up your sleeve.

Things to keep in mind when using cinnamon powder for plants, both indoors and in your garden

So, you know now that you can use cinnamon powder for plants, however, as always, there are a couple of things to consider before going cinnamon-crazy.

• Use organic cinnamon – 'To ensure the safety of your plants and the environment, use organic, pure cinnamon without any added chemicals, sugars, or artificial ingredients,' advises Peter.
• Not all plants appreciate cinnamon's touch – 'Tomatoes, peppers, delicate seedlings, and certain exotic varieties might recoil. Orchids, ferns, and prayer plants come to mind,' warns Ash. Always test a small section first.
• Moderation is key – 'While cinnamon is beneficial, avoid overuse,' warns Peter. 'Use it sparingly and only when necessary, because excessive amounts can hinder the growth of beneficial microorganisms in the soil.' 

Of course, while this natural solution is easily accessible and pretty genius to use for plants, be aware that it isn't a replacement for proper plant care. Instead, it should be implemented as part of a holistic approach to be used in rotation with other methods.