We live in the Denver area and have a 4' dual T8 tube light over a shelf in
the living room, which I use for sprouting seeds in peat pots in the spring.

But the light is kind of minimal for growing anything on a long term basis. I
don't know if it's the spectrum of the tubes in there, or whether T8 tubes
just don't put out that much light. ( doesn't anyone make "Gro Lite" spectrum
tubes anymore? )

But I was wondering if there was some kind of perennial that I could sprout
from seed, or get from a nursery, that would green up the room from fall to
spring, and then I could plant outside? Maybe I could do a row of them under
that light. But the would have to be something that could survive from
September to around late May, without a whole lot of light.

Anything green and perhaps pretty, for this?

Suggestions?

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

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

In article ,
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

We love bamboo begonias . Flower most of the year and propagate easily.
Keep it in a pot as in warm areas it would like to spread.

--
Bill S. Jersey USA zone 5 shade garden

http://marshallmcluhanspeaks.com/

On Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:57:58 -0700, "David E. Ross"
wrote:

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.

Depends:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impatiens

On Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:57:58 -0700, David E. Ross wrote:
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.

Many "garden annuals" are annual only because a heavy enough freeze comes
along. Keep 'em from freezing and you can keep them growing for many
years. Wax and similar begonias are another possibility for the house
in winter -- just look for plants you like that do well in shade.

On the other hand, many of the things we think of as "houseplants" do
fine outside in summer shade. Dunno how many hanging baskets I've started
over the years that included clippings of Swedish ivy and pothos and
Cymbalaria and various gesneriads, mixed with "garden annuals".

Another easy plant for indoors in the winter, if you can find it, is
sweet potato. You don't want the ones that were sprayed to inhibit
rooting, so you're most likely to find them in the "organics" section.
Even so, eventually the sprayed sweet potatoes sprout... I've got one
that's been sitting here since last Christmas and it's finally putting
out shoots and roots. Occasionally you can also find ginger, taro,
yuca that will sprout, right there in the produce section. g

Kay




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.

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



Thanks Kay.

"David E. Ross" wrote :

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.


Are we talking about perennial in the Denver area, not California?

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.

Oh, look at this!

http://www.ehow.com/list_5832408_t8-...g-plants_.html

Philips Aquarelle

The Philips Aquarelle is a mercury vapory fluorescent light that is very
efficient for indoor gardening. The 30-watt Philips Aquarelle model produces
10,000K (Kelvins--a thermodynamic temperature scale) of natural light which
allows plants to achieve photosynthesis as they normally would outdoors. In
addition, the bulb actually stimulates oxygen output in the plants with this
light spectrum. It is one of the best T8 bulbs because of its energy
efficiency, color rendering (promotes photosynthesis and oxygen) and
affordable price.


Now I have to go find them and see the prices!...

Kay Lancaster wrote :

On Tue, 07 Aug 2012 07:57:58 -0700, David E. Ross
wrote:
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.

Many "garden annuals" are annual only because a heavy enough freeze
comes along. Keep 'em from freezing and you can keep them growing for
many years.

Did I menion being in the Denver area?

No, I want something that's a true perennial, down to zone 4, please.

Bill who putters wrote :

In article ,
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

We love bamboo begonias . Flower most of the year and propagate easily.
Keep it in a pot as in warm areas it would like to spread.


Speaking of bamboo...hmmm.

I once did a little Google research and found that there are species of
bamboo that will grow outdoors and thrive down to zone 3, if I recall.

I'd love to start some indoors this fall, if it's possible.

Libertarian Lilly wrote :

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.

Oh, look at this!

http://www.ehow.com/list_5832408_t8-...g-plants_.html

Philips Aquarelle

The Philips Aquarelle is a mercury vapory fluorescent light that is
very
efficient for indoor gardening. The 30-watt Philips Aquarelle model
produces 10,000K (Kelvins--a thermodynamic temperature scale) of natural
light which allows plants to achieve photosynthesis as they normally
would outdoors. In addition, the bulb actually stimulates oxygen output
in the plants with this light spectrum. It is one of the best T8 bulbs
because of its energy efficiency, color rendering (promotes
photosynthesis and oxygen) and affordable price.


Now I have to go find them and see the prices!...




Following up on this, it seems that many of the ones mentioned in that
article arent available in the U.S. BUT, Googling: 10,000k t8
looks like a good starting point!

On 8/8/12 7:10 PM, Libertarian Lilly wrote:
"David E. Ross" wrote :

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.


Are we talking about perennial in the Denver area, not California?


You did mention keeping it indoors during the winter. Of course, few
outdoor plants rarely do well indoors for prolonged periods.

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

On Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:23:33 -0500, Libertarian Lilly wrote:
Did I menion being in the Denver area?

No, I want something that's a true perennial, down to zone 4, please.

No you don't, at least not if you want it to flower in the normal growing
season. The cold chill is necessary for flowering to be induced. And
ripping up a perennial every year to haul it into the house is likely to
kill it in a very short period of time.

Kay

On Wed, 08 Aug 2012 21:25:33 -0500, Libertarian Lilly wrote:
bamboo that will grow outdoors and thrive down to zone 3, if I recall.

I'd love to start some indoors this fall, if it's possible.



Not enough light intensity.

Kay