If one didn't have a greenhouse then I'd prefer fluorescent lights since the total environment can be better controlled while still providing sufficient light. This time of year there just isn't enough hours of sun, the right spectrum, or the right intensity of light (not to mention how windows reduce it further) for seedlings unless one lives in the southern hemisphere. Leggy plants is the result. The ideal set-up for this time of year is a greenhouse with supplemental lighting systems. Failing that, we all just do the best we can with what we have to work with. ;) Dave

I live in Salt Lake City, UT and I know of at least 50 Joshua Trees in the area. Every winter we see temperatures drop below 10 degrees and sometimes below 0 degrees and this has had no effect on any Joshua Tree I have seen. I have read that Joshua Trees can even survive down to -15 degrees. Near Las Vegas there are Joshua Trees that grow above 6000 feet mixed with Junipers and see snow every year. I am a student at the University of Utah and on campus there are a couple Joshua Trees, one of which is roughly 15 feet tall. Most of the time Joshua Trees here are planted on the south side of buildings to recieve the south sun in the winter. Too much water can be an issue as said before because the roots can rot and thats what makes them fall over. As long as your location doesn't fall below 0 degrees too often and it is not really wet all the time, they should be able to grow!

If you get 8 hours, that is pretty good. 5 to 6 hours is on the lower limit. I get about 5 hours direct sun plus lots of indirect and defused light. Not perfect but I am doing ok. In addition to light heat is also a factor. If your highs are 80F to 90F that can help a lot. With peppers, higher temperatures is a plus.

Thank you you for your comments.. I have a trellis with shade cloth where my I keep my seedlings but the sun shifts drastically throughout the day at this time of the year so I am constantly moving the plants in and out of the shade & sun. They get morning soaks and occasional sprays to keep up the humidity until the afternoon sun hits them under the trellis. Heat is definitely not a problem 87 degrees Fahrenheit) and night time lows of 70ish. Rain is also not a concern, since I live on the dry sunny side of the island. Until they mature a little more, I have resigned myself to being at their beck and call. Just call me "Slave".