Not trying to change the subject, but when you mentioned being from the North, I just had to comment. My family comes from Alaska. Gotta love the "Land of the Midnight Sun." Living under the Aurora Borealis makes enduring the dark Winters totally worth it, as well as the beautiful long-day Summers. :) My grandmother grew all kinds of plants in her home. I was just a little kid, so I don't recall what they were. She is where I inherited my greenthumb. I wish that I could remember what they were, because her house was always filled with them. I don't grow very many low light plants, considering I live further south now. I do grow a couple Sansevierias. A silvery white, pale green one called "Moonshine," & a dark emerald green NoID. During the Summer, they soak up plenty of direct sunlight. Then, when I bring them back indoors for the Winter, they sit on my dresser. Where they don't really get much light at all, and it doesn't bother them one bit.

Thank you for your responses; sorry I was so long in getting back to you. I believe the Aloe I have is the Aloe Barbadensis from the pictures I see on the web. I am trying to control my psoriasis with natural remedies rather than medical remedies. All the doctors have to suggest is to use steroid creams for the rest of your life. If you read up on steroid creams you'll say no thank you. I know using alternative remedies isn't proven by the medical field (I am a nurse) but many people have found alternative remedies to help them. I have purchased Aloe Vera from the stores, but from the reading I have done (and I have done a ton) the recommendation is to use the gel from the plant itself. I am still needing advice on how to keep this alive over the cold wet winter. Thanks Ginny

I had such problem my first year growing tomatoes. Actually, I left for three days and come back to them all laying on their side. I was devastated and thought of throwing them all away. But got an advice - to buy 2 gallon pots, soil, take the bottom leaves and all shooters away and plant them in a big pot laying down their stems in spiral in the pot the way only about a foot is above the soil soil. There was nothing to loose(other than money, ha-ha)) and I did it. The most challenge was to plant them later outside with a such root ball, but they grew so many roots, that the root ball stayed together. Just do not water for few days before setting them outside to have them almost dry for replanting. It will make it lighter and easy to work with. I still needed second person help to hold the greens, while I am taking roots with both hands. It was great tomato crop that year).

Get 6500k if you go T5HO, flowering vs. maintaining does not really apply to succulents unless you go really extreme on the ratio of red to blue light. This is based on scientific study (I can hunt for my source if you don't believe me). There is far too much misinformation on grow lights and plants. I am 'flowering and maintaining' many succulents under my lights. Right now, here is what is budding/blooming for me: 2x Haworthia, 1x Echeveria, 1x Huernia, 1x Faucaria, 1x Aloe, 2x Lithops, 1x Lapidaria, 1x Neohenricia. You might find this thread helpful, I've linked other threads in there with lots of good information as well. http://forums.gardenweb.com/discussions/3414424/can-i-see-your-winter-setup?n=18 This is my Neohenricia sibbettii, which currently has over 7 flowers. =)