Grow Your Own Cinnamon Tree!

Cinnamon is not only a popular spice and natural remedy, but also a pretty plant

Many have cinnamon on the spice rack, but not on the windowsill. So if you want a special houseplant, you should think about growing a cinnamon tree yourself!

Cinnamon – which one to take?

There are basically two different types of cinnamon that are commercially available as a spice.

The classic Ceylon cinnamon grows in Burma, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka and has a finer, more noble aroma.

Cassia cinnamon, which comes in large quantities from China, is spicier and cheaper.

You can also tell the difference in the rolls that are formed from the bark: Cassia cinnamon is cut into thicker slices of bark before it is formed into rolls.

The thinner and finer-leaved, the higher the probability that it is Ceylon cinnamon.

Basically you should use Ceylon cinnamon for consumption and only choose cassia cinnamon for decoration purposes and for scenting.

The latter contains considerable amounts of coumarin, which is toxic.

After a test, the Stiftung Warentest warned of many cinnamon stars and other Christmas cookies, which, seasoned with the cheaper cassia cinnamon, contained up to 37 times higher coumarin values ​​than allowed!

So be sure to pay attention to which cinnamon you buy for consumption!

Pull cinnamon from seeds

It is difficult to find seeds for cinnamon trees because it is not one of the most common seeds in Central Europe.

Maybe you can find what you are looking for at an online auction house or find a special mail order company that offers such seeds? If you got seeds, please note:

Site conditions for a cinnamon tree

Real (Ceylon) cinnamon grows in the tropics, where there is a high humidity of around 80% all year round .

In addition, the temperature there is usually above 25 ° C and the amount of precipitation is three times what we are used to in Central Europe.

The cinnamon tree is therefore a houseplant and not for the garden or balcony!

Think about where the cinnamon tree should be. It needs a lot of heat and moisture, which is why the bathroom is not a bad choice. He also enjoys regular showers, which can be done quickly with the hand shower in the bathroom.

Please remember that a cinnamon tree also needs a lot of light and therefore likes to stand by the window.

sowing

Prepare a bowl or pot of soil. The soil should be loose and have a more acidic pH.

Special potting soil is available in garden centers, but you can also rub normal potting soil finely between your fingers.

Do not forget that there must be no waterlogging and that you have to ensure that the bowl or pot is drained.

A hole in the bottom of the pot, covered with a shard, is the simplest solution. Cinnamon likes it damp, but it can’t swim and too much water would cause roots to rot.

Now sow the seeds and create the right climate.

If you don’t have a mini greenhouse or a glass or cheese dome that you can put over the pot, use a clear plastic bag, such as a freezer bag, to build your own greenhouse.

Always keep the soil moist and warm so the seeds can germinate!

breed

When you see the first leaves, open your mini greenhouse or freezer bag a little to let in air and allow the plants to slowly adjust to their surroundings.

Keep the soil nice and warm and moist, but make sure that there is no root rot or mold. Do not put the delicate plants in the blazing sun, otherwise they could burn!

seperate

Once your cinnamon tree babies have grown larger and are used to your ambient temperature outside of the greenhouse or freezer bag, it is time to isolate them.

To do this, carefully separate each plant with its root ball, for example with a spoon or fork, and carefully move it into its own pot.

If you have patience and the right climatic conditions for the cinnamon tree, you will see that it can grow into a large tree.

To keep it from growing too much, you should trim it occasionally.

Own harvest

In theory, you can start harvesting your own cinnamon from the 3rd year.

To do this, the bark has to be very soft, flexible and moist so as not to damage the plant.

Our humidity is usually insufficient, so you should refrain from harvesting in order not to damage your cinnamon tree.