Don't Trash Your Dying Poinsettia Plant - It Might Be Worth Something

It seems like the holidays start earlier and earlier each year. From Black Friday sales to seasonal celebrations, fall is just one big rush of events, feasts, and shopping adventures. After Christmas is over, if you're left feeling exhausted with a severe case of post-holiday blues, you're not alone. It doesn't help that you're faced with putting away the tree, cleaning up the ornaments, and tossing the fading poinsettias. But wait — before you trash your dying poinsettia plants, check to see if you can trade them in at your local garden center and get a discount on your next purchase.

For many people, it can be just as difficult to keep a poinsettia thriving all year as it is to face the doldrums of January. While it might seem strange that businesses would want your dying poinsettia plant, it actually makes sense, because it gets customers in the door. January is often the slowest month for retail businesses, and this program not only brings people into the store but also appeals to the eco-conscious shopper. The rise of sustainability has been a shifting trend in consumer behavior, and retailers are still figuring out unique ways to capitalize on that. Local nurseries that accept poinsettias as a trade often partner with a local compost company to turn waste into both a resource and a marketing opportunity by offering discount coupons in exchange for any poinsettia plant, no matter where you purchased it.

If you're someone who likes to decorate with poinsettias for the holidays but doesn't have the time or energy to try keeping them alive all year, the poinsettia buy-back program is the perfect solution. Unfortunately, it hasn't caught on with big box retailers like Home Depot or Lowe's yet, but it's worth calling your local garden center to find out if it participates. Poinsettia buy-back programs work in a variety of ways. Some places let you bring in your poinsettia throughout the month of January, while others run their promotions for a shorter time. Some shops offer in-store discounts that have to be used the same day, while others hand out coupons that are good for a couple of months. Other nurseries place a limit on how many poinsettias you can exchange through the program, though they may take all of yours off your hands just to keep them out of the landfill.  

While the consumerism of Christmas doesn't bother everyone, some people have a hard time with the waste. Taking small actions towards sustainability can make everyone feel like they're doing their part. Best of all, when you participate in a poinsettia trade-in program, you get to buy a new plant, which is enough to cheer up any gardener.