to think that if you don't want your plants to get wet, you shouldn't put them outside?

[Zara8]

I live in a second floor flat with a balcony. Today when I was getting DS's trike from the balcony to take out to the park, I noticed that some rainwater (maybe 1/2 to 1 cup) had gathered in the bucket at the back. So I did what I always do, lift the trike up, lean the whole thing out over the side of the balcony, and gently tip the water out on the bushes.

Cue 2 minutes later neighbour downstairs knocking on my door to complain that I had drenched her plants on her balcony and this was going to kill them.

Errr WTF? I was polite and apologised but pointed out I wasn't trying to get water on her balcony, I just didn't have any other way of emptying this small amount of water out of DS's trike bucket, and it was... errr... water. I said I would try and avoid dripping water on her balcony when I occasionally did this, but it was a bit hard.... but I did reassure her I wasn't trying to damage her plants

She doesn't have particularly unusual or out of the ordinary plants on her balcony. All of the balconies in our building are north facing, very exposed, get a lot of rain (where I live is permanently damp and drizzly). In fact I don't have any plants on my balcony anymore because they all got waterlogged from so much rain and died because of the cold/lack of light!

I do think she is being a bit precious. It's not like I'm getting a big full household bucket of water and tipping it right onto her balcony. Her plants might have been hit with say 1/3 of a cup of rainwater.... and that's what is apparently going to kill them.

AIBU to think that you should know that water is wet and if you put plants on your balcony they might get.... wet?

Just to clarify, I lift the trike out well past the balcony railing, and I aim the water on the bushes in the communal gardens below. I don't try and pour it directly onto her balcony! I risk dropping the trike already just so I don't dribble much water on the neighbours' balconies!

Tbf perhaps best not to throw the water over the balcony in case you splash anyone either on a balcony below or who happens to be passing. Pretty alarming if you were on your balcony and water was thrown from somewhere over your head.

Agree it's not a big deal, but perhaps best not to do it for the sake of good relations.

Wowfudge I do always check that there's nobody below before doing it. It's a bit of a tricky one as the bucket is difficult to detach and I don't have anywhere to drain it.... not sure what other people do in this situation!?

I think it's unlikely you would have caused harm, but that you were wrong to chuck water over a balcony.

For sudden downrush isn't the same as steady rain. And delicate plants may be brought in and out at this time of year as a normal part of the hardening off procedure, and that doesn't allow for a bucketful descending from height in a oner.

And you can deal with the water with no annoyance to neighbours by sopping it up with a towel and then habpving that out to dry.

I appreciate that throwing a bucketful of water over would be bad Stella, but a maximum of 1 cup's worth....??

By that rationale I would be hesitant to move my barbecue or my balcony furniture, lest water be dislodged from around them and drip below!

I am definitely going to be even more cautious now but I actually practically don't have a solution to how I get rid of water from a fixed trike bucket on a balcony. Perhaps if I leave it permanently lying on its side?!

Ok, I definitely could use a towel, but the weather's not often nice enough to leave it drying outside. But that is an idea!

I was just feeling like there's a case of "live and let live" that happens in apartment buildings. I certainly don't complain about the noise downstairs, or the parties that go on quite late sometimes and she's sitting on her balcony smoking and drinking with friends!

Keep it upside down when rain is forecast. Our keep it inside somehow.

Yes, could certainly keep it upside down. Water will still drip off it when I turn it over though! Hopefully not too much dribbles through.

Ok clearly I was being a bit U. Possibly my views are clouded by the fact that it's not exactly the best location for plants. It ain't me that's going to kill the plants... it's the shite weather and high winds that'll do it!

YANBU at all OP. Your neighbor is odd.

Could you not just pour it on the floor and let it drain off like all the rest of the rain/water?

Then it would really pour down onto the balcony below Funky! There are small spaces between each of the floor planks/beams of my balcony, about 1/8 an inch wide. I pour it off the side to avoid it getting on her balcony, I thought I was being considerate but apparently not....

I messaged DH about it during the day at work and he made jokes about her being lonely and grouchy with her soggy plants