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Using ashes to plant a tree

9 replies

FindoGask · 19/01/2015 10:14

Hello, I'm not sure about the right forum to post this in but I'll try here. Hope it's OK to post and not too upsetting for anyone.

Our beautiful little cat Spider died suddenly on Saturday night. She was 10 years old. She hadn't been herself for a couple of days, I took her to the out of hours vet on Saturday morning, dropped her favourite of my husband's jumpers in for her later (she hated the vet and I wanted her to have something familiar and comforting) and she never came home. She was our only pet and the house feels all wrong without her.

We decided on an individual cremation and we're getting her ashes today. I feel weird about this but it felt the least awful of the options. I've talked to my husband and daughters about what we'd all like to do and we have agreed that if possible we'd like to put her ashes in a big plant pot and plant a small tree of some kind in it.

Has anyone else done this or something similar? Did you keep the ashes in their container (hers are in a "scatter tube") or did you mingle them with the soil? I've read conflicting things over whether cremated ashes are good or bad for plants. Apparently they're acidic so we'd need to plant something that likes acidic conditions. But I'm no gardener so I've no idea what I'm doing.

OP posts:
Skatingfastonthinice · 19/01/2015 10:27

We mingled the ashes with the soil in a big planter and put a star magnolia in.
We also planted bulbs in the soil; snowdrops and yellow crocus.
18 months and he's still missed daily.

RubbishMantra · 19/01/2015 12:20

Sorry for your loss. I think that's a lovely way to remember her though. Smile

And having got into a bit of the old gardening myself recently, you'll be pleased to know that most flowers and shrubs prefer an acidic soil. I've just had to add a load of sulphur to my flower beds because they're too alkaline.

FindoGask · 19/01/2015 12:48

Thank you both.

That's very reassuring to know, RubbishMantra - thank you. I've been looking at the RHS website just now too and have found a couple of ideas for trees that like being in pots and also acidic soil.

OP posts:
RubbishMantra · 19/01/2015 12:55

Camellias like pots and acidic soil. Loads of varieties and very beautiful.

RubbishMantra · 19/01/2015 12:56

I think they bloom this time of year as well.

chockbic · 19/01/2015 12:59

A rose bush might be nice

Sorry about your cat.

loraflora · 19/01/2015 14:00

Sorry about your cat. If you go for an acid-loving plant in a pot then make sure the compost you use is ericaceous, or it won't be healthy longer term.

FindoGask · 19/01/2015 14:09

Thanks again for the help and suggestions guys. Good to know about the compost, loraflora.

Wow, camellias are indeed beautiful! I love that they're in bloom now too.

OP posts:
cozietoesie · 19/01/2015 14:32

A camellia sounds wonderful. I'm very sorry for your loss.

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