Found this online

"The plant can be grown in shade as well as in the sun. Too little light will result in large, elongated needles. It does best in bright light filtered through a translucent blind or curtain."
Also read it will grow more slowly on shade.

Thank you. That's what I read as well, but I was just wondering if I could "speed things up" a bit..

What type of Podocarpus are they? Maki is much slower growing, compared to Gracilior.

I have a podocarpus gracilior hedge on three sides of my backyard that I affectionately, or not so affectionately, call Hedgezilla. Much of it is in the shade. Don't worry. It'll take over your yard soon enough.