If the student is young, I think a question on a forum that has a diverse group of participants makes sense - it takes time to learn about how plants perform in various environments and how various people respond to them. If the OP is young and starting out (not necessarily the case for that Diploma...), asking for opinions on a forum is probably the fastest way to expand their knowlege base on how plants perform in a wide variety of domestic gardens. And somebody young is probably very comfortable 'talking' on the computer and likely to turn to a computer conversation as one of the first options to consider.... (It was interesting how students reacted to the 'class participation forum' in the correspondence course I took last winter through the University of Guelph. The students ranged in age from 20s to 60s. I was disappointed that there wasn't as much discussion on the forum as I expected and asked the Prof. about it. She said that the older students tended to be uncomfortable with the whole written conversation format. It became very noticeable that, in general, the pattern of participation was pretty closely aligned with age - with some exceptions!)

"I hope we can still get that cool rainbow look but I'm really just happy I'm getting any growth at all right now." Not in Virginia Beach but it's impressive, surprising even, that it managed to return from the roots. Where did your gift giver get it - or did you ask? I think they are pretty rare in commerce. "We have a lot of crepe mertles here that people cut back and the tree regrows its branches back, would a eucalyptus do the same?" It would but it's a bad idea, especially for crape myrtle. Google "crape murder" - I believe there used to be a website.

It's very doubtful that the fluorescent light was too intense. I grow various seedlings under fluorescent bulbs spaced about as close together as I can possibly squeeze them to approach natural light. If your lamps are unusually intense and placed immediately above the seedlings, just back them off a little. It's more likely that something else is going on. If you are sure that lack of moisture wasn't a problem, how about too much moisture? I have had more problems with too much moisture than not enough, myself. I've had cuttings in well aerated soil to experience rot because of excessive moisture even when the top of the soil looked like it was dry. Sometimes it's hard to judge the moisture levels in the lower part of the pot. Transplanting now might be a good idea because it would give you a chance to examine the roots and see if rot was a problem. I would stick with the fluorescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs are generally not well suited for use as plant lights for various reasons. BTW, check the wavelength (temperature) of your bulbs if they aren't specifically for plants. Something around 5000 degrees K is usually best. Some bulbs are too red or too blue for best plant response.

how far from the lights ...??? how many lights... ???? and how much time have you given it... days??... weeks.. months???? has there been any new growth since ... is that growth tending toward the light??? if not.. its not close enough to the light ... i grown hosta indoors .... the lights are 2 inches from the leaf .. and must be checked every few days .... i would lower the lights incrementally to avoid burning the leafs .... i also use 4 standard 4 foot lights in two fixtures ... suspended with hardware chain to make them fully adjustable .... on hosta.. no effect with foo foo expensive bulbs .... its all about intensity .... think about it this way... you cant look a the sun ... but you can look at one bulb.. even 2 bulbs.. put 4 bulbs together... with reflector plates... and at least you are going to have to squint .... and if you move your eye.. AND PLEASE DONT... to 2 inches.. there will be intensity .... get what i mean .. and there should not be any diffuser between the plants and the light ... good luck ken