Hi guys,

I started off as a indoor bonsai enthusiast. I quickly learned that growing bonsai outside would be the way forward but was too scared to grow them outside as have a property that has a front garden only. The garden is very easy to access by anyone but I took the risk. 11 Months later a plant of mine was thrown by someone against a next door neighbours window. My question is: how do you deal with security and for the time being what would happen if Chinese junipers were brought inside by a large windowsill without any central heating but with 5/6 hours of sunlight through a window. I understand that the conditions are less than ideal but I would like them to be kept more secure. I have about 50 plants outside and am worried about them so would appreciate your thoughts and ideas. Just by the way I have no back garden. Sorry if the question has an obvious answer.
Thanks,

H

You can buy specialized locks, though they can be expensive (especially as you would need 50).
You could also try making ways of locking them down, not sure how you would do that. I believe someone else on the forum had the same problem, so hopefully they can answer that better.

I don't believe that a juniper could survive in those conditions.

Dont have them outside unprotected. With years they will only be more precious to you. You could just screw the pot to the wooden table they are on, but still somebody could pull them out. Think of an enclosure or move them to the roof.

Winter wrote: Dont have them outside unprotected. With years they will only be more precious to you. You could just screw the pot to the wooden table they are on, but still somebody could pull them out. Think of an enclosure or move them to the roof.

Thieves have no respect. They will pull it out of the pot, even if it damages the roots, or they'll just break the pot.
You'd have to drill a hole through the trunk and guide a steel wire to it - but of course no one is going to do that.

You could consider mounting security camera's.
A high fence around your front yard would help - but may not be allowed (in our country, I think max. allowed height is 1.40, so that doesn't help).

Trees belong outside, but many cant have a garden. We know nowdays vegetables are grown under LED lights so I wonder how would that work for a bonsai. I wouldnt do it, but if somebody has no other choices and buy an already formed bonsai that doesnt have to grow larger maybe LED would work ok. I would still radher make an stand outside the window.

My trees are in full view. There is no point in trying to hide them, I don't have room. It is one of those things that we have to put up with, and hope. High fences are fine but they can be climbed. Determined theives will get in, so you can only do your best. Keeping moving trees is not good.

Thank you everyone. I'm going to keep at it and consider all the options.

I had a small mallsai I was working on stolen by thieves. Since then, I chained my trees, and installed a security (motion sensor) light. Since then, I've had no problems. Since you have 50 trees, the chain option won't really do it for you. Get security cameras, and motion sensor lights.