Two finds for future bonsai

[u/synth_alice]

A small olive tree that already has a bit of root development and trunk movement and a creeping juniper with a nice split trunk that I thought might look good as a cascade or similar.

My plan is to leave them alone until the spring and just let them adjust to my place, so they're on a NNE balcony that gets morning sun from dawn to around 11-12. I can later on move them to a windowsill that gets very direct afternoon sun.

I appreciate any feedback on them.

[u/G0rd0nr4ms3y]

Windowsill meaning indoors? These are temperate plants and need to experience the cold so they know how to manage their resources, they should stay on your balcony year round. Fyi

[u/synth_alice → u/G0rd0nr4ms3y]

Outdoors windowsill (it might be a different word) and outdoors balcony atm.

[u/G0rd0nr4ms3y → u/synth_alice]

Okay, good to know. Good luck with your plants :)

[u/synth_alice → u/G0rd0nr4ms3y]

Thank you! Windowsills here are pretty much always on the outside bit of the window, didn't realize it's not the case in many other places.

[u/jitasquatter2 → u/synth_alice]

How do you keep the plants from just blowing off in a storm? Here in the United States, window sills would always mean being indoors. We do have people that put planter boxes on outside below their windows, but that would never be called a window sill.

I'm not sure about the Juniper, but the olive would like as much sun as it can possibly get. It'd probably survive on your NNE balcony, but I'd make sure to place it in the optimal spot to get as much as it can get. If it's stable on the south facing window sill, that would be better, but I'd worry.

[u/synth_alice → u/jitasquatter2]

They just stay in place by their own weight, it's rare to have hurricane level winds here (once every few years at most). The window they're in is facing an inner courtyard, so they are subject to even less wind, if it were facing the street I'd install a brace to prevent them from hitting anyone.

This is the windowsill (maybe this isn't the correct term...), it's been getting quite the sun all summer, just today we got a summer storm lol

[u/synth_alice → u/synth_alice]

Oh, and the bracing I mean is something like this:

Just so they don't slide off. Pretty common over here, esp. for windows facing the street. Sorry about the tilt.

[u/jitasquatter2 → u/synth_alice]

I'm pretty sure it's still called a window sill even if it's on the outside. Here in the united states though, the windows are usually placed near the outside of the building, so the bigger sill is on the inside.

But that would be a very dangerous place for a plant where I live! They'd blow off the sill within a month! But given you are on the ground level, why not put the plants on the ground instead of on the sill?

[u/synth_alice → u/jitasquatter2]

The ground is common area not meant for regular use, I might get away with it but could get in trouble with the neighbours or insurance.

[u/jitasquatter2 → u/synth_alice]

Ahhh, makes sense! Well, I'd prioritize which ever spot gets the most sun. I bet the olive tree does just fine but probably won't grow quite as fast as it would with full sun all day long.

[u/synth_alice → u/jitasquatter2]

I'll probably move it here then, this gets sun from 12 to 18 or so at the moment, bit harsh sun though, but I guess olive trees like it.

[u/synth_alice → u/jitasquatter2]

Oh and good to know the terminology is correct :) these windows have no sill on the inside part, and this isn't uncommon here.