I'm not sure...read a bit about it...have frozen jugs of it just to fill freezer space now and again...the pups like it...full of protein. add to compost and the worm bin in random amounts... What i've read seems to have many contradictions... It is healthy waste so i would go ahead and use it as a side dressing. Not sure about using it for powdery mildew but i often, given the damp weather, get it on some zukes...and would not hesitate using it fi it rears its powdery head come july... just to give it a go...with other methods. -not very helpful but do not toss it down the drain...at least compost it...

Yeah, I am strongly considering another light fixture. I am very happy with the one I've got, but it won't fit on lower shelves - I need to shave off about an inch off the 13-inch depth of the fixture. Thinking of sawing grooves on the sides of the fixture, so that it can be slid into the shelving unit. Looks like it can be done. There are four shelves for plants with the fifth top shelf for the fixture itself. I am definitely not getting four fixtures in total - thinking on hanging the lights every other shelf, but setting pots looser, so that some light reaches the lower shelves, where more shade tolerant plants will live. >> are you combining [plants] because of limited light/shelving? Several reasons. I like the look of full pots. Aesthetics can be improved (I would not do it otherwise). Experimenting with combos is interesting. Limited space with good light (plenty of other space though). All of these are my reasons. >> another thing I would do - hang smaller plants off the sides, elevated mid-shelf to maximize exposure. Yes, I also thought of that. I deliberately bought the 4-foot wide light fixture for the 3-foot wide shelf to max the light availability for plants, and because 4-ft fixtures are so much more widely available. Those plants off the sides of the shelves are hopefully benefiting from the light, as well as from slightly higher humidity because plants are grouped.

I've had Japanese maples and cotinus (purple smokebush) in large containers for as many as seven years before they needed to go in the garden. I also have schefflera in a large container that has gotten as much as 8-feet tall before I have to give it a buzzcut. Of course, I have to bring it into the garage in the winter in my zone. I don't know how much of a screen you are wanting, but all of the above can have annuals and vines planted at their feet.

Pam, I started writing a big long message, before I realized that you're in Las Vegas, Nevada, NOT Las Vegas, New Mexico! I guess I'm so used to seeing New Mexicans on this particular forum, and maybe I'm a bit insular-minded or something. Anyway, I can't imagine you would have much trouble as long as you choose things that can take the heat and you give them sufficient water. If you'll be doing any sort of gardening in the West though, you should definitely have the SUNSET WESTERN GARDEN BOOK to help you sort through the dizzying array of species out there. It's mostly an amazing plant encyclopedia, but the plant selection guide in the beginning also helps you choose from categories such as "plants for dry areas", "cacti and succulents", "trees and shrubs for containers", etc.. Sorry that sounded like a Sunset ad, but it's always the first place I look. By the way, for whatever reason this particular forum has been very very slow for a long time, so you might get better results in one of the others. Some of them have dozens of new postings daily and quickly get numerous responses.