On 8/7/12 2:42 AM, Kay Lancaster wrote:
Try impatiens (just the regular garden impatiens, not the New Guinea types) and
coleus for starters. Try one each warm white and cool white T-8 if you
can't find grow lights. And remember that the light output of a fluorescent
tube declines pretty dramatically in 6 months use or so, so you may be
better off getting some new tubes.

Kay


I always thought of impatiens and coleus as annuals. However, Sunset's
"Western Garden Book" describes coleus hybrids and Impatiens walleriana
(busy Lizzie) as perennials.

The attraction of coleus is its multicolored leaves. To prolong vigor,
flower shoots should be removed immediately when the appear. Even then,
the plant may lose its vigor after a year. Renew it by taking cuttings,
which are easily rooted.

Although Impatiens walleriana is perennial, it is usually treated as an
annual. To maintain long-term vigor as a perennial, it needs to be cut
back often to about 6". It will quickly send out new shoots and resume
flowering.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean, see
http://www.rossde.com/garden/climate.html
Gardening diary at http://www.rossde.com/garden/diary