Hi Esther - photos would help answer a lot of questions first before anyone could answer.

Is the lowest shelf below the sill? Is there an outside overhang, any trees, shrubbery or structures shading the window at all? How many hours does that area stay bright? Do higher shelves get more light and are they alternatives? How high is the distance from the bottom shelf to the one above it? Is adding artificial light an alternative?

Someone here may be able to offer suggestions but photos would be helpful.

Thanks. I just took some photos to help describe the location.

IMO that bottom shelf is not a good location for them as it is now.

My easy solution: Amazon sells little clip-on grow lights that might work. Clip it on the side or above shelf and have it pointing down on the plant.

Someone will probably have a better idea though. :-)

What will happen if you open the shutters?

Irina: Neighbors will be able to see inside my home. Not a good security move.

Your comfort is what matters the most.

As a horticulturalist, I would recommend planting thorny shrubs outside the window (barberries or maybe hollies), then opening the blinds for the plants inside (lol). Or just load up with lights.

What, dbarron? No alligator filled moat or starving pit bull run? Naw. The gators and dogs would probably be stolen, by a UPS delivery porch pirate. I do have a can light and a couple of smallish fluorescent tube fixtures which might serve.

It doesn't matter if the security issue is very serious or not. We have a genetic desire to sleep in a safe cave, not to be be exposed in the wide open space where hyenas will still our babies and lions will attack and kill us all. Some people are more sensitive than others and prefer to have curtains closed. Fine with me.

I realized that since I had only an eastern exposure for my living room, and I had the shutters which are necessary for privacy and security, that I'd have to supplement the light for the succulents and cacti on my bakers rack. The plants under the 4' tubes are doing great, thank you. I have a couple of fluorescent aquarium light fixtures left over from before I upgraded the lights on those tanks. I'm thinking perhaps I could install the smallest, thinnest one on the second shelf, which is only parallel bars, to illuminate the main shelf where the small reptile tank is. That should be enough, right? And should I go for full-size AF plants or some minis?

Your ambient light is low, so my thought is that an Aquarium light will be less than optimal. It is an 18", correct? But it is better than nothing. Means the plants will grow OK, but they won't bloom as much as they can with the higher light . The optimal light is 2 T12 tubes shoplight 8 inches above the plants - but with a baker rack - it is not likely to happen.

Ah yes, the old "should I get 4 minis or two standards" question.

I have a bunch of minis. They are nice and they definitely take up less space than standards. But.

I just don't like them as much, the flowers are so small that I often have to use a magnifying glass to enjoy the finer aspects of them. They are, generally speaking, a bit more finicky than standards. Last but not least, they are definitely more prone to PM than standards.

Having said all that, I don't intend to get rid of mine anytime soon. They sort of round out the usable space on my plant shelves.

There are some real nice varieties of semi's out there that have normal sized leaves and flowers but the plant just doesn't stretch out so much. I like those and have quite a few.

If you think you may still suffer from less than optimal lighting, there are a bunch out there that prefer less rather than more light. (Irina may be able to help with that.)

Anyway, enjoy looking for your new roommates!

nothing beats the sunshine!

Matt - surprisingly the fluorescent light produces better plants. You can regulate the intensity and time - and there are no cloudy short days in winter.

I

I have a couple of higher priority projects in the works. When I complete those, I will work on illluminating that area better and then, I will ask for suggestions for AFs.