Lizalily, I agree with ARIF regarding sunlight. Max is best, and in some cases they will not bloom unless in full sun. However, I find that papilio is not among these and will bloom given at least half day direct sun. Also papilio will languish during the high heat of summer here in Houston. Additionally, I have tested mine for frost tollerance. 30F for about 3hrs and found almost no damage. I'm not recommending it, just my experiance. Consistant moisture and a deep root run helps grow big bulbs. However, be aware rot and insects can kill bulbs. I feed mine alot, using stuff like super bloom. You just gotta find what works for you.

I wish I understood when you said: "An alternative is to run high output LEDs on-top of a normal cornice system offset slightly.". We will call Nuworld tomorrow too to see if they have a comparable product like the lighting company from Turkey. Our light plan shows 3 regular ceiling fixtures. The ones in front of the window could be up and down casting pendants. The ones over the sink and big one over the island I assume task down lights. I can't see I would be bothered by inconsistent cove light shadows. I think the idea is worth exploring carefully, especially considering we won't be able to have under cab lighting and given the lower ceilings limit up light fixtures. From what I understand cove lighting is a very good way to get ambient/general room lighting. Carol

mimi, the big old fashioned bulbs are my favorite, too. The LEDs I got were supposed to be like these, and yes, they are the same size and shape, but the color...eeek! I wonder too if I will ever get used to them. A few years ago, before I ever payed attention to types of lighting, I would sometimes see commercial places with LED lights on their trees, and I always wondered what was wrong with the lights (they were always the clear white), especially when I would see them next to the usual kind. bungalow, if many people don't like the LEDs, maybe we will have to go through another Dark Ages until the technology catches up:-) I am thinking I am going to be doing without house holidy lights this year, too. I just can't bring myself to plug these in. For the inside I have an old aluminum tree with a color wheel, (I don't even want to know how much of an electric hog the wheel is, but I don't leave it on long) so I didn't have to worry about lights inside before, but this year I had really wanted to purchase a more traditional tree loaded with lights. That will not be happening, LOL. alex, that's a wonderful way of thinking, comparing it to moonlight on snow. Unfortunately, I am not there yet, and wonder if I will ever be. It snows where I live :-) I too wish manufacturers would improve things, but, I am not terribly hopeful at this point. I hear about the wonderful things that have been done to fluorescent lighting, too, and I do use it in some areas of my home, but I don't find it to be a wonderful light colorwise, even with the updated fixtures. One of my friends has replaced all the bulbs in her home with CFLs, and it looks strange and cold and eerie like an imaginary doctor's office (she decorated in all neutrals, that may be part of the problem, not sure if colors work better under fluorescent?). I pay attention to lighting in stores where they want the items to look good, and while they use lots of fluorescent, they also have a very heavy hand with the halogens. Which come with their own problems. reno, as it stands, I would rather not have lights than the LED lights too. But I am going to be seeing them more and more on other people's homes and now I am going to dislike holiday displays, something which I have never done...I even liked those tiny yards full of every holiday creature in molded plastic. Now I am picturing the same thing but with LEDs. Horror film stuff indeed! Amy, how do you like your cabinet lights now that they are alternated? Is the color more palatable? Did you get used to it? joanie, interesting on the warm white lights having phosphors. I wonder how long that would last. Fluorscent bulbs that try and mimic incandescent warmth claim a phosphor coating, too. Supposedly it does not last the life of the bulb. Sheesh I am going to need a scientist and a decorator just to change my lightbulbs from now on. ttodd, sounds like you've gotten used to it, which is probably what we will all have to do. I wonder if kids react in the same way, or if they love the LED light displays as much as we loved the incandescents. *sigh* At forty I wasn't ready to be an old fogey longing for the yesteryears, yet, here I sit. susieq, what will you do when the incadescents are eliminated? Actually, I have no idea if ALL incandescents will be gone...and if so when...I mean even though T9s are much better in fluorescents you can still buy the old T12s of humming buzzing fame. I am just in a quagmire here because I want very much to use less energy, reduce my carbon footprint, etc, and yet gosh I hate the way some of it looks. carrie, what color are your lights? What is the brand? I am still sad, but at least I know I'm not alone in my dislike of the LEDs. I would still love to hear from someone who LIKES them, and know what brand they bought, what colors or clear, ect. Thanks for all your responses... Joanna

Dang, I wish I would have posted on the forums before picking a greige because I LOVE some of them that are posted here. LOVE Jute. We're in the middle of painting most of our house a greige (yes, still) and we chose Agreeable Gray. Sometimes it has a funny cast to me, and I canNOT figure out what it is to save my life. Pinkish? Purpleish? And I wish I would have known the "it won't look as dark when painted on all walls since you're sampling against white" thing before. We almost went with Revere Pewter but it looked SO dark on our sample spots, that we went with Agreeable Gray. Now I think Agreeable isn't quite dark enough, except at night when it looks really dark. I'm starting to feel like 90% of our house is color mistakes. :( To the OP: Start with considering your lighting. Flourescent makes everything look funny. Can you change your bulbs to something else? And I really like your #2, it doesn't look pink at all to me. :)