Making the most of a small space ...

[Drac0]

About 12 months ago I had to move into a first floor unit so no garden space only a balcony. So I improvised:

balcony1.jpg

balcony2.jpg

balcony3.jpg

balcony4.jpg

I actually have a fair bit of spare space there, a number of seedlings & cuttings will be going to a garage sale then to charity for any that don't sell. Won't last long though, have a number of seed trays going at the moment so hopefully fill it right up again.

Only put the plastic on yesterday as it's starting to cool down a bit here & I lose any direct sunlight by midday. Hopefully we won't get a last spurt of summer!

Cheers

[raewynk]

Cheers Mark,

For the amount of space you have, utilised very well.

Good luck with the garage sale and the charity gifts.

Shame you have no garden, no chance of utilising some communial area for your hobby???????

Cheers
Rae

[Rory]

Lack of sun may actually play a part in the downfall of some of your stock, so just make sure you arrange the levels by order of most needing sun. Balcony bonsai can be difficult, manageable but difficult. And depending on sun, sometimes just impossible.

[Drac0]

Once the extras are gone I'll have a bit of room to move things around & maximise the available sun. As for the communal space, the way these places are designed along with trees & high fences, there really isn't anywhere available better than the balcony. I really need to be on the other side of the street. I don't think I could get them to remove the covered parking area on the north side for my bonsai....

Cheers

[rudy]

Hi Draco,

I used to live in a 2nd story apartment with a small balcony and didn't do what you did, and missed the relaxation that plants provide.

I missed out on the joys that your setup provides. Well done and enjoy.

Rudy

[Drac0]

Hi Draco,

I used to live in a 2nd story apartment with a small balcony and didn't do what you did, and missed the relaxation that plants provide.

I missed out on the joys that your setup provides. Well done and enjoy.

Rudy

Thanks Rudy, hoping it works.

As for the sunlight issue I realised last night that due to changes in the suns angle the balcony will actually get more hours of direct sunlight during winter, just from the end with the greenhouse rather than the front. So that will be good as long as I put the taller plants to the back.

Cheers

[raewynk]

Hi Draco. I don't know if this helps or not. I bought an aquarium sunlight florescent tube for indoor plants.
And also set up mini greenhouse in storage bin from officeworks .
Heat mat goes on newspaper below container for 3 -4 hours at night.
Been ten days approx. and getting good results.
Hope this helps.
Could be used for sick nursery or established plants one would think I haven't as yet set up greenhouse outside. Thought I would utilize inside.

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[Drac0]

I'm looking at setting up something similar with an old fish tank I picked up at a garage sale. Thinking of lining it with mylar sheet to reflect the light around more. Just need to find the time & space.

Cheers

[raewynk]

I think its a brilliant idea the light is fantastic . I am at present germinating crab apple and Judas tree and bat leaf cutting as well as black bat lilies. So far success.


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[bamboos]

Hi All
Some time ago Ficusboy101 who lives in the USA wrote of boxes and tanks and how he uses them to keep things growing indoors.From memory he used lights and heaters and used a reflective lining.It was amazing how much growth he got in the middle of winter you should be able to find the post using the search
Steve

[Drac0]

Hi All
Some time ago Ficusboy101 who lives in the USA wrote of boxes and tanks and how he uses them to keep things growing indoors.From memory he used lights and heaters and used a reflective lining.It was amazing how much growth he got in the middle of winter you should be able to find the post using the search
Steve

I think it was the post by Ficusboy101 that gave me the idea of the tank/box using mylar to reflect the lighting. I actually picked up a couple of cheap mylar blankets on ebay after reading it, just haven't got around to using them.

Things seem to be going well in my little greenhouse. It is generally 7 - 10 degrees warmer than outside & usually 80% plus humidity (88% today). Lots of new growth on all my figs even now as it cools outside.

I have one larger benji that seems to love the new conditions, you can see it on the ground in the brown crate in the initial pics. To date all it has been is a source of cuttings but since it's gone inside it's taken off. And for the first time it is producing aerial roots - not just a couple but over a dozen so far that are already up to 100mm long in just a couple of weeks. Now I'm starting to think of new possibilities with a tree that was really nothing more than a pot plant with no future but as a donor for other projects.

Cheers

[raewynk]

Draco / Mark,

Question in your 1st photo top left hand corner the tree that is wired. What is it?

regards
Rae

[Drac0]

Draco / Mark,

Question in your 1st photo top left hand corner the tree that is wired. What is it?

regards
Rae

If you mean the one on the top shelf on the right side it's a Morton Bay fig.

Cheers

[Neli]

I would like to give a bit of advise how to increase your space and hope it is not offending. BTW I love your set up...it looks like a little piece of heaven.
I welded and designed this little hanging contraptions which you can hang from the rail of the balcony towards the outside of the street. Just the idea...you can modify it to suit your needs.
I hope you can see the little plant holders hanging on the outside of the rail. If you need better picture, let me know.

IMG_1157 (550x413).jpg

[raewynk]

Thanks Mark,

My other left.



Regards
Rae