Well, for one thing, there are ways to hang plants in the window. Shelves going across, ceiling hangers, brackets to hold a pole across the window for hangers, small pots across the sill, etc. However, of course you should check first with your wife bc she might not like that.

Then I'd try some in each spot. Though, the living room does sound the best. I don't spend nearly enough time looking at my plants. We have a E trigona that gets very little light, but it is hanging in there. I think I overwatered the crassula to death (I am going to try again). No experience with the others.

Thanks, Need2SeeGreen. Anything that blocks that window in any way is going to incur my wife's disapproval! Hahaha. I've moved the plants into the living room. I do know that the plants were happiest in our old apartment in NYC when they were right in the windows receiving tons of direct sun in the morning and then afternoon bright light. We were up on the 24th floor, so it was great. I don't know how they'll adjust to this but I guess we'll wait and see. :-/

How cold will the unheated room get?

That's a good question, Tiffany. This is our first year in this house and we haven't experienced winter yet, so we'll find out soon. :-)

Unless you expect it to get below freezing, that space could work well. Most/many succulents come from climates with cold nights. If you try using it, I would recommend not putting plants directly on the floor, but raised on anything possible, shelf or table, so the pot is not in contact with the cold floor. And limit watering to warm spells, if your winter has such occurrences. A small heater of some type that is not expensive to run could be a good option to be able to use that room for plants, depending on the severity of winter @ your location.

IME with plant-cramming over winter, the other household members find it easier to take if they are spread out - the plants, not necessarily the people. ; ) This also gives you a reason to get up and walk around to see how they are doing, add water as needed.

Aside from a south-facing bowed window, there is only a few hours of light at most available by any window for a plant inside over winter. That's enough to keep most of them looking pretty good. As the sun's path varies from south to north and back, the spots where the sunlight hits will vary, and you may be pleasantly surprised with the sideways rays in the morning and evening.

I hope plants aren't the cause of any more arguments @ your house. Have you tried infecting the Mrs. with plant love?

Good points! My plants and I have grown accustomed to having a great corner bay of windows with north, lots of east and some south exposure too. With no obstructions except the windows. Going from that to this is going to be a big shift. I imagine there might be slower growth at the new place but hopefully they will adapt. Good idea abour raising them off the floor. I have a small 54"x12" and 24" tall table I am going to use for them. Should get that set up next week.

What are people's thoughts on using grow lights for succulents? Are there any fixtures I could get that actually look nice and could be used maybe for four hours a day? If something like that would be beneficial and allow them to thrive rather than just soldier on, I'd be interested in investigating it. Thoughts?

I think we're through arguing about the plants, thankfully. A big, ugly grow light might stir things up again though! Hahaha.

do you have a basement?? .. if so.. declare it the man cave ... over which you claim all dominion ... lol .. good luck with that ... and build or buy a light stand.. and have you little garden down there .. and she can decorate her brains out up stairs ...

once you perfect that.. perhaps you can bring some nice plants upstairs for a week or two.. to enjoy them where ever she allows... and then just cycle them back to the light stand ... and bring up other plants .... encourage her to use them in her decor designs ...

ken

A surprisingly high number of plants can stay pretty great looking under ordinary fluorescent bulbs in a shop light. When I've done this, I use one cool, 1 warm. I'm not sure they sell these kinds of bulbs anymore.

There are lights sold for growing plants but IDK anything about those to advise.

I think an LED bulb would be great. I imagine something in a cool white with high lumens would be best. Anyone have any particular bulb they've used that works well? And I assume any fixture that directs the light downward towards the plants would be acceptable? I may start a new topic on this actually... Thanks everyone!

I ended up ordering a couple of these:

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FR8X1J4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1

Couldn't find a fixture that would work well, so I'll just hang them by their cords with some hooks from the ceiling. 3724 lumens, 6000k... Seems like it should be ok - will hang them a few inches above the plants, perhaps one bulb for every two plants or something like that and see how it goes.