The cempasúchil flower is an essential part of the Day of the Dead. During the season around November 1st and 2nd, the streets and homes across Mexico fill with the unmistakable aroma of this traditional yellow and orange flower that heralds the arrival of one of the country's most representative traditions.

Although it is a flower full of meaning, as it is indispensable in the Day of the Dead altars, unfortunately, the cempasúchil does not last forever, and eventually, we must remove the offerings in honor of the faithful departed, taking away the cempasúchil flowers and petals used for decoration. However, the trash does not have to be the final destination for this Mexican flower, so at kiwilimón we share several tips for you to reuse the cempasúchil flower after the Day of the Dead.

What to do with the cempasúchil flower after removing it from the altar?



Organic insecticide
A great option to reuse the cempasúchil flower is to make a natural insecticide with it. According to the National Institute of Ecology, the leaves of the cempasúchil flower serve as a repellent against some insects, which is why it is often planted in gardens to control pests.

To make your own natural cempasúchil insecticide, you can follow the instructions shared by the Info Agrónomo portal. You should macerate 1 kg of cempasúchil leaves and stems and add it to a container with 1 liter of water. Let the mixture macerate for a day and then dissolve it in 11 liters of water. Done! You can apply this cempasúchil flower insecticide to your plants to protect them from harmful insects and pests.

You can also read: Medicinal benefits and uses of cempasúchil

Natural dye
According to the National Textile Institute, the cempasúchil flower is also used as a natural dye for coloring textiles, just like cochineal, indigo, walnut husk, and pomegranate, to name a few examples.

The advantage of using the cempasúchil flower as a dye is that no chemicals are involved in its production, making it a completely natural product. Additionally, it allows for recycling the flower once it has wilted. To do this, the petals are removed and boiled in water. The resulting infusion can be added to materials like wool or cotton, which should then be allowed to dry completely to appreciate the characteristic yellow color of this natural dye.

Compost
Being an organic material, flowers are excellent for making compost, and cempasúchil is no exception. So, if you plan to give a second life to your cempasúchil flowers from the altar, this is a good alternative that will also help nourish the soil from which other plants will draw nutrients.

To compost flowers, you should cut them into small pieces, separate the stems, and remove the petals; if the leaves are very large, it is ideal to cut them in half or into thirds, as indicated by the Lomi portal.

Then, you should place the cempasúchil scraps over a 30 cm high layer of straw distributed along a compost bed, as noted by the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources. Moisten with plenty of water and alternate with other layers of food scraps or garden waste and crumbled manure. Remember to moisten between each layer. You should keep the compost sufficiently moist and turn it every 15 days and then every week. When it is ready, it can be stored in bags and kept in a dry place to use when you need to fertilize your garden or pots.

Cempasúchil flower collection center
Another option is to take your cempasúchil flowers to a collection center where they can be given other uses. If you are in Mexico City, you can take your cempasúchil flowers from the altar to the Foro Tláhuac, where they will collect this flower to obtain seeds, compost it, plant a pollinator garden, and create art, herbalism, and gastronomy.

The collection center will be open from November 3rd to 30th from 11 am to 2 pm and 4 pm to 6 pm and is located next to the Tláhuac Forest on Av. La Turba s/n, Col. Miguel Hidalgo, Tláhuac. Keep in mind that they will only receive cempasúchil flowers, whether in bloom, petals, or in pots, and that they should not be in plastic or cellophane bags.

What option will you choose to reuse the cempasúchil flower after the Day of the Dead? Remember that at kiwilimón, you can find the best home tips that will make your life easier.