My sister is faced with a gardening challenge. I was wondering if any of you knew if any retailers sell outdoor grow lights. Nothing huge. Just one that could give some supplemental light to a pepper and tomato plant. Here's the situation. The plants are located on a balcony that gets bright light at times, but no direct sunlight. They need to remain outdoors because of issues with kids and pets. The tomato and jalapeno plant are alive, but let's just say they are not thriving. Is there such a things as outdoor grow lights? Thanks! Here is a link that might be useful: Kim's Garden

Thanks floral, i believe a couple are a type phorium, it was more a generalisation of the theme we have adopted through-out our gardens, must also excuse as we are new to this but are really enjoying the experience and producing something pleasing to come home to. At the moment the new additions in that particular garden are doing well. if you have any suggestions though that may adapt well in this shaded area keeping with the theme we have, i would greatly appreciate it.

Cutting down the tree is not an option. I would never get permission from the city even if I wanted to cut it down. The tree is over a hundred years old. It is also probably 20 feet in diameter. Someone from down the street built a home and they had a much smaller banyan tree and it cost them oodles of money to move it 15 feet so they could pour the slab..... but the main reason I wouldn't cut down the tree is that it probably cuts my electric bill 30 to 40%!!! Now I know that roses need morning sun, but when I started several years ago I planted roses at my office. I did not know any better and I planted 4 roses in a bed that I build on the top of the asphalt in front of my building. The roses are on the west side of the building and they don't get sun til sometime around 1 or 2 depending on the time of the year. So the poor things get major morning shade, after noon blazing sun and reflection off of the white walls and roots that sit on top of asphalt..... Would I do it again. No. And I am sure that the 3 (yes, I lost one from not knowing what I was doing) I have would bloom much better, or more. But they do look lovely. But the place I want to plant the roses at my home, would not get much afternoon sun, or morning sun. They would get overhead sun, and then afternoon filtered sun.

No. Just summering them outside, unless I opt for a heated greenhouse. Otherwise for the cold months I have three rooms for growing in artificial light and providing various aspects of climate control. One of them large enough for a tent enclosure. Last night I experimented with shutting off a small room and cracking open a window, trying for a diurnal drop of 15 degrees and close to 55 for some intermediate orchids. It worked, and my garage is incorporated into the house as well but not directly heated. I have a min/max thermometer in there to see how it did last night. could put dormant dendrobiums in there for their cool off period.