Cinnamon - Orchid Board

lornaheath · #1 07-22-2013, 04:11 PM

Can anyone tell me what Cinnamon does to a newly cut spike? Any other Ochid uses for it?

Lorna
x x x

butterfly_muse · #2 07-22-2013, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lornaheath

Can anyone tell me what Cinnamon does to a newly cut spike? Any other Ochid uses for it?

Lorna
x x x

In my experiences, cinnamon has done relatively nothing to a newly cut spike. I know it's used for keeping away fungi and other nasties, and none of my 'chids have had an adverse reaction to it.

DO NOT PUT IT ON THE ROOTS, it will dessicate them...!!! I have also used it on a spot where the end of a leaf got burned and I had to cut it off, as it rotted. 'Chids were actually fine. Not among those that I have murdered.

lornaheath · #3 07-22-2013, 04:51 PM

Aawww thanks Hun

RosieC · #4 07-23-2013, 08:06 AM

I don't bother with it on a spike.

It is a desiccant, and I think it has antiseptic qualities. It can help protect against nasties getting into a cut on the plant. In this case drying out the wound also helps seal it and stop anything getting in.

I was once told there is no point on spikes because they only have up-flow of sap, not down-flow, so nothing can get back into the plant that way anyway. I use it on leaf cuts, and other damage to the plant.

As said above do not use it on roots, or if you do only the tiniest bits. Sometimes people have heard the advise for leaves and assume it applies to roots as well, but it will dry them out and stop them doing their job. A tiny tiny bit on a cut root tip is sometimes OK, but I don't let it anywhere near the roots since I made that mistake in the early days.

lornaheath · #5 07-23-2013, 08:08 AM

Well you really do learn something new every day don'tcha?

Cheers Girls.

Lorna
x x x

Island Girl · #6 07-23-2013, 08:28 AM

Yea, as Rosie said, I have also made that mistake with cinnamon on roots, I thought "oh, it's anti fungal, so why not pour it all over the roots! That'll fix it! *insert stupid smile here* my orchid will be better in no time!"

Oh well, ya live, ya learn, right? And... hopefully have a good laugh at your own expense, usually along with good friends.

But.... I did learn that a soft toothbrush will (gently) scrub the stuck-on cinnamon off of the roots nicely.

Purple_phal_gal13 · #7 07-23-2013, 11:08 PM

I've used cinnamon on cut roots before with no ill effects. But I strictly dabbed the cinnamon only on the cut roots that was having the rot issue. But when I first got my orchids going I used it profusely and did manage to kill a lot of them.

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