by Peter on October 27, 2020
Cinnamon trees are one of the most popular Christmas trees in the world. They are not only beautiful but they provide many benefits to your home.
You will learn how to grow a true cinnamon tree here at Home Depot!
The following information was compiled from various sources including books, magazines, websites and other online resources. If you have any additional information or corrections please contact us.
Growing a Ceylon Cinnamon Tree – What Is The Best Way?
There are several ways to grow a Ceylon cinnamon tree indoors. Some methods may work better than others depending upon the climate, soil type and other factors such as light intensity, water requirements and so forth.
In general, the best way to grow a Ceylon cinnamon tree indoors is to use a fluorescent bulb with high lumen output. These bulbs emit very bright light which helps stimulate growth and flowering of the tree.
Fluorescent lights are available in different wattages and colors. Choose one that matches your room’s lighting needs.
Another option is to grow a Ceylon cinnamon tree outdoors under artificial lighting such as fluorescent tubes or overhead floodlights (also known as HID lights). If you choose to do this, then you must also provide a minimum of 6 hours of direct sunlight per day so your tree does not become “leggy” (reaching for light) or grow very tall without developing side branches.
A well-lit office may work but you must keep the tree in a well-ventilated area.
How Do I Take Proper Care Of My Ceylon Cinnamon Tree?
Ceylon cinnamon tree care is fairly simple. When growing a Ceylon cinnamon tree it’s best to use a well-draining soil such as orchid mix with a small amount of perlite mixed in. The size of your pot should be at least twice the height of the tree’s root ball. Make sure your pot has several holes in the bottom for proper drainage. Overpot your tree once it outgrows its pot. Feed the plant every two weeks during the spring and summer while in active growth using a balanced fertilizer diluted by half.
Water your tree when the soil is dry about 2-3 inches deep. Do not water again until the soil dries again.
Make sure you water your tree more often if it is in a smaller container or is exposed to more sunlight. Ceylon cinnamon tree care involves little else in terms of maintenance.
Can I Grow A Cinnamon Tree From A Seed?
Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several trees from the laurel family. The trees must be at least 5 years old before they are harvested for their bark. Ceylon cinnamon, also known as “true cinnamon”, is made from the inner bark of the Cinnamomum verum and C. zeylanicum trees.
There are two types of cinnamon readily available to consumers. The first is called “Chinese” or “Saigon” cinnamon and comes from the related C.
camphora tree. This type of cinnamon is much less expensive than “true” cinnamon but also has a very different flavor and scent profile. It is used more often in teas and medicines.
The second type of cinnamon is known as “true” or Ceylon cinnamon. This spice comes from the inner barks of two species of the Cinnamomum tree: C.
verum and C. zeylanicum. Native to Sri Lanka (formerly called Ceylon), this type of cinnamon has long been treasured for its flavor and fragrance. For this reason, it is the more valuable of the two types of cinnamon.
Ceylon cinnamon trees grow best in wet, tropical climates with plenty of rainfall. The trees can grow up to 100 feet tall and can live up to 200 years.
The cinnamon tree is harvested by stripping the bark off the tree several times between July and December. After the bark is stripped, it takes about three years until the bark can be harvested again.
Once the bark is harvested, it is then sun-dried and taken to a processing factory that separates out the inner layers of bark containing the fibers. These fibers are then bundled, compressed and cut to length for sale.
Because of the difficulty in harvesting this spice, along with the fact that it takes up to 10 years for a tree to grow enough to be harvested, Ceylon cinnamon is the second most expensive spice on earth, next to saffron.
Cinnamon has a long history of medicinal and culinary use. As early as 1400 B.C., Egyptians were using cinnamon to embalm mummies.
Ancient Greeks and Romans used the spice for both culinary and medical purposes. During the Middle Ages, cinnamon was sometimes used as a substitute for black pepper, which was very expensive and hard to acquire.
In more modern times, cinnamon has been used to make medicines for digestive issues such as diarrhea and respiratory illnesses like the common cold. It is also believed to lower blood sugar levels and to calm nervousness.
Cinnamon’s flavor makes it a popular addition to foods like oatmeal, applesauce, yogurt, tea, coffee, meats, fruit and desserts.
With both of these flavors having their own distinct tastes, you might wonder which one to choose when cooking or baking. The most important thing to remember when selecting one over the other is what you are making and how much of it there is.
Sources & references used in this article:
Medicinal properties of ‘true’ cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a systematic review by P Ranasinghe, S Pigera, GAS Premakumara… – … and alternative medicine, 2013 – Springer
Health benefits of Ceylon cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): a summary of the current evidence by P Ranasinghe, P Galappaththy – Ceylon Medical Journal, 2016 – researchgate.net
Yield and essential oil quality of Indonesian ceylon cinnamon at different age of harvest by O Rostiana, E Suryani, S Purwiyanti… – … Series: Earth and …, 2020 – iopscience.iop.org
Effects of Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ceylon cinnamon) on blood glucose and lipids in a diabetic and healthy rat model by P Ranasinghe, S Perera, M Gunatilake… – Pharmacognosy …, 2012 – ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Health Benefits of Cinnamon by CE January – thehealthcloud.co.uk
Effect of water requirement on growth, yield and peelability of True Cinnamon (cinnamomumzeylanicum by PR Alahakoon, SN Weerasuriya… – Journal of Engineering …, 2019 – 192.248.73.6
Ceylon cinnamon does not affect postprandial plasma glucose or insulin in subjects with impaired glucose tolerance by J Wickenberg, S Lindstedt, K Berntorp… – British journal of …, 2012 – cambridge.org
Is cinnamon Good For You? by J Walter – iceagenow.info
Description of Plant: A small evergreen tree native to by A Milewicz – Herbal Therapy and Supplements: A Scientific and …, 2000 – books.google.com
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