How to Use Cinnamon for Plants: Natural Pest Control and Sturdier Stem
Raise your hand if you've ever sprinkled cinnamon into your coffee, but never once thought about tossing it into your houseplants. 🙋♀️ Same here—until I discovered just how ridiculously useful cinnamon can be for plants.
If you're battling fungus gnats, ant invasions, or droopy plant stems, cinnamon for your plants is one of those “wait, why didn’t I try this sooner?” kinds of solutions. It’s cheap, natural, smells good, and best of all—no toxic sprays or expensive gadgets involved.
There's also something pretty satisfying about using something straight out of your spice rack to solve a problem in with your plants.
Tools and Materials:
- Ground cinnamon (any kind will do)
- Cinnamon sticks
- A small spoon or shaker
- Garden gloves (optional, but helpful)
- A spray bottle (optional for even application)
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1. Use Cinnamon to Deter Gnats (and Curious Cats)
If your indoor plants are constantly hosting a party for fungus gnats—or if your cat thinks your monstera is a salad bar—this trick is for you.
How to use it:
Sprinkle a light, even layer of ground cinnamon over the top of the soil. That’s it. Seriously.
Cinnamon has natural antifungal properties that help kill off the gnat larvae hanging out in the soil. Plus, the smell might just keep Whiskers from using your pothos as a chew toy.
2. Use Cinnamon Sticks as Natural Plant Supports
Yes, cinnamon sticks. They’re not just for cider anymore.
If you've got a seedling or plant with a floppy stem, a cinnamon stick makes a great low-key plant support.
How to use it:
Place the cinnamon stick vertically into the soil next to your plant’s base.
Use soft twine or a twist tie to secure the plant loosely to the stick.
Bonus: Cinnamon's antifungal properties can help prevent root rot and repel pests at the same time.
3. Sprinkle Cinnamon to Repel Ants (and Other Tiny Terrors)
We all know that telltale line of ants making their way across the patio, into your planters, or worse—straight into your home. If you’ve tried everything to stop them short of building a moat, grab your cinnamon jar.
How to use it:
Find where the ants are entering or trailing, and sprinkle a line of ground cinnamon in their path. The strong scent messes with their pheromone trails, so they’ll literally lose their way. No trail = no party.
It works in garden beds, pots, and even along window sills or baseboards inside.
Try these 3 ways to use cinnamon for plants
I’ll be honest, I used to think cinnamon was just for cinnamon rolls and fall candles—but nope. It’s officially earned a permanent spot in my plant care stash.
The best part? It smells amazing and doesn’t require a trip to the garden center. Just open your spice cabinet and boom—you’re basically a plant whisperer.
If you end up trying any of these tips, I’d love to know how it goes. Does your cat respect the cinnamon boundary? Are your plants standing a little taller thanks to their cinnamon stick support?
Comments
Join the conversation
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Toxic to catsm
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Some of my cats (and strays) get fed outdoors. Ants are a problem. Can't use bug spray by the food, and I read a long time ago that ants hate cinnamon. I sprinkle a circle of cinnamon around the bowls. The ants don't cross the circle, but I have discovered that certain ants (tiny, sugar ants) seem to like cinnamon.
Also, I had a classroom in a basement with an ant problem. Cleaning staff said they had tried everything to get rid of them. I sprinkled cinnamon along the wall. Wasn't the prettiest sight for a while after the staff washed the floor, but no more ants.
Frequently asked questions
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Can cinnamon be used on orchids?
Does cinnamon work for Squirrels too?
Will cinnamon keep bird from eating plants?