Shade is a state of mind. Different kinds. Since you work at a nursury that might be a good way to experiment for the future when you buy a home.

Here is a link that might be useful: Propagating Perennials

Hi, is the shade caused by the the building facing the wrong way, or is the growing area shaded by trees? Is the growing area inclosed or open? I had considered mounting 36" florescent fixtures verticaly in a grid layout. Say using 5 of the fixtures in a + shape giving me four areas with 3 point lighting. Each grow space would would have lights on 3 sides to suppliment any natural light coming in. The power consumed would be about 400 watts, or about the same as a telivision set. The spacing and layout may have to be different than what I had considered doing, if you made the base simular to the kind that might hold a christmas tree upright, then the vertical lights could be arrainged in a line with a plant or two between each fixture. I had thought of using 5 gallon buckets filled with dirt with a 2x4 in it to mount the light fixtures. I have grown plants with florescent lights and found that the temprature of the bulbs is so low that plants are not damaged even with direct contact. The balast transformers in the fixtures are another story. They do get warm, so two fixtures mounted back to back would be a good way to arrainge a layout with plants on both sides. Hanging the lights from above is not too good because the lamps need to be close to the plants, and it would be hard to walk around low hung fixtures. Also, when the plants grow taller, you would need to raise the fixtures. By being set verticaly, they take up little space and will accomodate both short and taller plants. If your growing space is outside in the open, then my idea would not be safe. chuck

It does make a difference what kind of shade you have. I have a shady balcony too, and I'm always trying new things. I get early morning sun from the east and late afternoon sun from the west, about 1-2 hours in all. Here's a few photos from last summer.

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Posiegirl your balcony is so pretty!

I have three useful plants that grow in almost full shade. One is mint, and delicious in Mojitos or tea. It also adds a very cool kick to a burger on a bun. One is jalapeno pepper, and the other is sweet basil. They are on a north facing wall, and only get late afternoon sun from the West. I have one pepper in full sun, and it does not do nearly as well as the one in the shade. It's just a thought!
Good luck!

I have a patio that is shaded by trees and only receives a couple hrs of morning sun,plus it is often overcast where I live. I have Spider plants, wondering jew,ferns, ficus , ivy(I have it positioned so it gets sun if there is any),a plant that looks like a green onion with long flat green leaves and a stem with small flowers once a yr.Plus misc green house plants.I would like some flowering plants and ones that trail from the planter.
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