Azhure, I have houseplants year-round, and it gets to 30 below here sometimes. I keep my plants near lamps(regular table lamps), using compact fluorescent(spiral)bulbs. They don't necessarily thrive, but they do ok through the winter. You want to hold back on fertilizing during the winter as this is a dormant time for most plants, starting them back on a feeding schedule in the spring. Some do well all year inside, like African Violets, Spider Plant, and a few I will put out in nicer weather, but not full sun for the summer...Tradescantia(Wandering Jew), Swedish Ivy, Philodendron. I also have over wintered hot pepper plants this way. Hope this helps.

I'm not sure what your basement accommodations are, but my boston fern doesn't seem to mind handling temps down to the 50s, and it LOVES its florescent light when I bring it inside... It drops a few leaves initially, but then actually seems to get even more full and fluffy than outside... You can buy a cheap florescent lamp at home depot...

Butterfly, sorry, but I have to disagree with you. :) I admit, growing Gardenias indoors, especially in lower zones is not an easy task, but it's not impossible either. Emh8, follow Blutayles instructions. And if possible, invest in a humidifer and/or indoor fountain. Both can be purchased at reasonable prices.. As for additional lighting, I use a 6' workshop light. They sell ornate lighting devices, but it depends how much you want to spend. Also, if you only have one plant, you can get by with a small fixture or floor lamp. Gro Lights are a bit pricy, so if you want to save on $$ yet want something that works, get a 2-bulb fixture, one cool white and one warm white flurescent bulbs. Daily misting helps a lot. If possible, hauling the Gardenia to a sink/shower, soaking leaves, 'not soil' increases humidity. Don't overwinter your Gardenia in a hot room..nope..that's an invitation to Spider Mites..A cool room is perfect. Do you have such a room? Keep away from heating vents.. If your Gardenia has foil, remove ASAP. Some plants are sold to look, 'pretty,' but foil is a sure way to kill most plants, let alone a Gardenia. Do not fertilize during winter months..Withhold fertilizer until you notice new growth or once days grow longer. Don't bother repotting in winter. As long as its current container has drainage, and well-draining soil, it should be okay..Water your gardenia well, then wait until soil feels dry/crumbly. In spring, you can start fertilizing..I use Azalia/Rhodo fertilizer. There's more to learn, but for the time being, let's see how it does. And yes, remove yellow leaves..they will not revert to green. While removing them, check to see if they feel sticky. Any leaves that fall in soil should be lifted and tossed..Good luck, Toni

Sleeper, here's my experience with lavender and rosemary in St Louis. Indoors they do not do well, get spindly and mildewed. The worst part is they seem to make it thru the winter and then succumb to mildew in late winter when it's too cold to put them out, but your hopes were high. This happened several years in a row. Outdoors lavender does well here (we get down to -3F for a few days most years). We may be a bit warmer than you-- this has been zone 6 winters most years recently. Needs the hottest sun you have to make beautiful blooms and scent. Check out somewhere like High Country Gardens for some types hardy to zone 5. Make sure they are not wet in winter. Rosemary I had luck with for 3 or four years planted under the eaves (shelter from rain in winter) and against the house wall for warmth. This was a cold hardy type and got very large. A re-landscaping project tore it out, and I haven't been able to replace it. Two years ago I bought a cold-hardy type from High Country Gardens and planted it out in the open. It did all right the first winter, but I think it died this (very nasty cold) winter. HCG has two cold-hardy types (they're in Colorado). These should do okay in normal zone 5 winters, especially if you can replicate the up against the house trick that worked so well for me. You might have to replace each time there's a really nasty winter. Rosemary have to be dry in winter. Good luck.