cinnamon

[terrycinor]

Here's a question that will show my ignorance, what's the properties of cinnamon that are useful to orchids? I can understand peroxide and alcohol as an aniseptic that makes sense to me but I've never used cinnamon in any gardening I've done before.

Terry

[Undergrounder]

No idea except i think its just a natural fungacide.. i don't use it, especially on roots. I used to treat new cuts in leaves and roots with it at first but haven't bothered for years now.

[Dendian]

It has fungacidal and anti-bacterial properties and is easy to get. I was looking for a very good thread about it being a dessicant also, but couldn't find it. Maybe somebody else has it saved....

[psyc1210]

Here you go

Cinnamon is a desiccant

[terrycinor]

Thanks JoBeth great info, kind of like putting a bandaid on a cut. Thanks!

Terry

[syndywindy]

You have to be very careful how you use cinnamon. If you read through the thread that JoBeth added as a link, it talks about how it can dry things up. I am proof of that. My Hawkinsara Koolau Sunset 'Hawaii' had a chewed up leaf thanks to one of my cats. After trimming it down, I added cinnamon to the cut end. I also got cinnamon down into where the 2 leaves meet. There was a sheath forming and now it has absolutely stopped and is now turning brown. I don't know if it will continue to grow, but the sheath hasn't shown any new growth this week.

[evagentry]

Cinnamon works well on leaves, you can also make a strong cinnamon tea, when it cools add a little alcohol, I was having a leaf problem on some of my plants and this seems to have cleared it up. It doesn't burn either.I wiped it on using a soft cloth.

[Ray]

Cinnamaldehyde is the active fungicidal/bactericidal ingredient. It's the powder that's a desiccant.

You can avoid the desiccating action by using an infusion - several options here

[HeatherAnnn]

This is quite confussing to me. I understand now about the cinnamon. But I have a leaf that I accidently bent last night. And now it has a light green line in it. I don't know what to do about it....will it survive?

[Schlyne]

A bent leaf should be fine. My first phal even has a leaf with a small crack in it and the leaf is fine.

[pugmom]

I am wondering if using cinnamon extract would be better then the actual powder.

I am very new to orchids but not new to Essential Oils and when I read about using cinnamon I thought about cinnamon EO instead of the powder and have been using the EO to spay roots when re potting, I also have a phal with a black spot near the bottom (it was potted in moss at the store) so I switched it to bark, trimmed the dead leaves and have been spraying with cinnamon EO and water daily. My mix is about 5 or 6 drops of the EO to about a cup and a half maybe 2 cups of water.

I guess we will see if it helps.......

I also found this relating to cinnamon extract, has nothing to do with orchids I just googled the properties of cinnamon, thought this was interesting.
"Anti-Microbial Activity
Cinnamon’s essential oils also qualify it as an “anti-microbial” food, and cinnamon has been studied for its ability to help stop the growth of bacteria as well as fungi, including the commonly problematic yeast Candida. In laboratory tests, growth of yeasts that were resistant to the commonly used anti-fungal medication fluconazole was often (though not always) stopped by cinnamon extracts.

Cinnamon’s antimicrobial properties are so effective that recent research demonstrates this spice can be used as an alternative to traditional food preservatives. In a study, published in the August 2003 issue of the International Journal of Food Microbiology, the addition of just a few drops of cinnamon essential oil to 100 ml (approximately 3 ounces) of carrot broth, which was then refrigerated, inhibited the growth of the foodborne pathogenic Bacillus cereus for at least 60 days. When the broth was refrigerated without the addition of cinnamon oil, the pathogenic B. cereus flourished despite the cold temperature. In addition, researchers noted that the addition of cinnamon not only acted as an effective preservative but improved the flavor of the broth.(October 1, 2003) "

I am also wondering about tea tree oil, it is a powerful anti fungal EO, but has anyone tried it on orchids?

[mytwogirls]

Wow, you learn something new every day. I put cinnamon on an aerial root I broke off a couple days ago.

[katrina]

I've used tea tree w/my orchids.

I've used a few drops in the water when I soak my bark mixes.

I also use a product w/tea tree as the main ingredient...but it mixes w/water better than the oil. I use if for all the properties tea tree is good for...anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, etc. And I use another product w/tea tree by the same company...but I use this one for insect control when all the plants are in the house.

I once tried to use the tea tree oil in some water but found that...like other oils...it didn't disperse in water well so I don't use it directly on the plants.


With the cinnamon EO...be careful. I already had cinnamon EO so I used it last summer instead of the extract and it burned some of the leaves on one of my stans. If you're spraying on the leaves...you're better off using the extract w/water. I believe cinnamon oil is too "hot" for direct use on plant leaves and/or roots.

Hope that helps

[mehitabel]

Thanks for the article about properties of cinnamon, Pugmom. I've wondered about those very questions. Very informative.

[davetheorchidaddict]

I'm kinda simple, if it works I do not really care what is in it, to worry about all that stuff is like standing in a burning building and trying to figure out the cause before you evacuate. There is only one way to find out if the if the cinnamon EO works is to try it. I have learned a great deal over the years by talking to growers and hobbiest and trying what they suggest. I keep a bottle of cinnamon mixed in vegitable oil always ready to apply where it is needed, has not let me down yet.

[pugmom]

Originally Posted by katrina

I've used tea tree w/my orchids.

I've used a few drops in the water when I soak my bark mixes.

I also use a product w/tea tree as the main ingredient...but it mixes w/water better than the oil. I use if for all the properties tea tree is good for...anti-viral, anti-microbial, anti-fungal, etc. And I use another product w/tea tree by the same company...but I use this one for insect control when all the plants are in the house.

I once tried to use the tea tree oil in some water but found that...like other oils...it didn't disperse in water well so I don't use it directly on the plants.


With the cinnamon EO...be careful. I already had cinnamon EO so I used it last summer instead of the extract and it burned some of the leaves on one of my stans. If you're spraying on the leaves...you're better off using the extract w/water. I believe cinnamon oil is too "hot" for direct use on plant leaves and/or roots.

Hope that helps

Thank you very much!

With tea tree being native to Australia, I wondered weather some of the native orchids would be opposed or welcome it?

I have cinnamon EO but was hesitant to use it, good to know that the powder is a better option.

I am trying to be 100% organic with my orchids, and if I have to experiment a bit then so be it. I am going to try and incorporate small amounts of tea tree oil and see how things go Thyme oil also has some good properties similar to tea tree so I may experiment with this as well. I use thyme oil as my main disinfectant but have not tried anything directly on the plants, only to disinfect pots, cutting tools ect.

Sometimes you have to let the oils sit in the water for 24 to 48 hours to help them blend, and make sure you used distilled water, tap water dilutes the EO's over time, so anything mixed with tap water has a limited shelf life.

I am going to do some experimenting and if I find anything of value I will be sure to post it

[Schlyne]

I used cinnamon essential oil when I made up my version of brooke's bug killer for my false spider mite infestation, however, I diluted it a lot, knowing that essential oils are quite a bit stronger. (I've been using them here and there for other things for years). I didn't leave one section of one of my catts out long enough to dry out of the sunlight after treatment and sunburned a leaf after treatment due to the sunlight sensitivity from the bugkiller mixture. I posted my version of the mix in the best stuff ever thread I think.

[katrina]

Pugmom -- I saw your post in another thread and I'm directly connected w/that company. I use the S.U.G. on lots of stuff...including orchid gear...no ill effects at all. I also use several of the other products from that company on my plants...orchids...even tomatoes in the summer.

Dave -- once you understand the dynamics behind much of what we (those looking for safer options) do... it's really not complicated at all. I have extreme allergies...including chemical sensitivities...that long ago many things that people pick up in the local grocery had to be banned from my house. Today...I'm very careful about what I bring in my house...I have to be and as a result I don't have nearly the skin trouble I used to experience.

With all of that said...I am not against using a more traditional insect control but only when the plants are outside. And, my use of those products definitely adheres to what is considered Integrated Pest Mmgt...I do not spray everything.

I should've added...when I used that cinnamon oil...the plant was getting some direct sun and even though I let it sit before spraying...the oil coagulated on the leaves a bit...as in drops...and it's those drops that got burned. "Hot" oil + direct sun = burned spots on my leaves. If it was sprayed and allowed to sit and then wiped off...it might not have the same effect. ?? Can't say for certain.

As for the tea tree ...native orchid or not...I'd bet the concentration level of the oils (or any oil) would warrant caution. Just my guess.

I know some EOs are better at dissolving in water. My sister is w/a company that I get a lot of my EO's from and they do dissolve in water much better. I've not tried her cinnamon though and they don't carry tea tree. Hmmm...note to self...try her cinnamon.

Pugmom -- do keep us posted on your experimenting!! I'm always interesting in hearing what's working for others.