Trader Joes to Offer "Brain Cacti" Plant for Día de los Muertos
Not that we need another another reason to love Trader Joes, however, this season the grocery retailer is offering "brain cacti," that will go great with your Día de los Muertos decorations. It's an intertwined pattern of the plant that makes it look like a brain. They only need to be watered once a month and are currently selling for the bargain price of $5.99.
Trader Joe's aisles are full of fan-favorite snacks, desserts, and frozen meals, but often, the grocery store chain also offers festive decor and adorable plants for customers to pick up on their shopping trips. Most recently, Trader Joe's has been spotted selling "brain cacti" for just $5.99 that will look great in your fall display.
Brain cacti were given that nickname for a reason—the intertwined pattern of the plant makes it look like a brain. This semi-spooky look and name makes it a great decoration for Halloween, but the sugar skull label each cacti comes with also suggests that these plants are great for Day of the Dead celebrations.
Day of the Dead, also known as Día de los Muertos, is a holiday that comes around every October 31 to November 2. The day is observed in Mexican culture and dates back to the Aztecs and involves a number of traditions that honor friends and family members who have passed away. Although traditions for the holiday vary by region and family, one of the ways individuals celebrate is by putting together ofrendas, or altars for their deceased loved ones.
These altars can include photos, food, and other objects that honor those who have passed. Marigolds and other plant displays can also often be found on these altars. Brain cacti actually are native to parts of central Mexico, so these small plants could be a nod the traditions of Day of the Dead in a subtle way.
The Trader Joe's signage says the cacti only need to be watered once a month, so it's also a great plant for those who with a lack of a green thumb. A video from a Trader Joe's store also shows that there are other plants potted in sugar skull vases and "spooky tree" plants that you can bring home through the end of October.