Position – Plant your cinnamon tree in spring or late fall in a sunny spot with at least 12 hours of sun. These trees do not enjoy cold weather and perform best with temperatures above 20°C. Planting them in containers will be able to keep them small and more manageable. Ensure your containers are at least 50cm in diameter with a depth of also 50cm.
Size – Cinnamon trees can grow to 10 metres tall with a canopy spread of 10 metres.
Soil type – Cinnamon trees enjoy acidic soil with a pH of 4.5-5.5, so adding spagnum peat moss will aid in keeping the soil at the correct pH. Soil needs to be moist but not soggy.
Water – Water regularly keeps the soil moist but ensure that the soil does not get soggy.
Pruning – Cinnamon trees do not require regular pruning, but it is good to remove dead, damaged branches which could affect the tree’s growth.
Fertilising – Fertilise with a slow-release fertiliser every spring.
Harvesting – Remove some of its branches and cut away the outer bark until you reach the yellow-orange inner bark, which is the new growth. Peel away strips of the inner bark until you reach the core of the branch or trunk. Set these peeled pieces on a window screen or tray in a single layer to dry. Once they dry, it will curl into the cinnamon quills we are all used to.
