What do you want to grow? Many plants would be quite happy in an unheated bedroom, garage or basement. Lots of annual seedlings will grow very well, a little slower perhaps, at 60F instead of 70F, and a combination of warm days and cooler nights is very good.

Would you really need supplemental light on the patio? I would think that natural light, even in winter, would be much stronger and you'd probably block out more light with the light stand.

Oh boy, I hope I didn't spend $125 needlessly. Seems to me over the years I've read many times about the value of such lights. I do propagate fuchsias alot and I believe an expert in the area has hers under lights all the time. I will try some seeds just because. And then, who knows. I just know I do alot of propagating and I hope this will help!
Ginny

Lights are useful for propagating from seeds or cuttings indoors. They are essential unless you have enough space by cool bright windows. I just can't imagine ever needing them outdoors in California. Even your winters are as sunny as our summers. Artificial lights are also very useful in enclosed propagators where you want to keep humidity or a controlled temperature.

How do your Fuchsias manage in the summer? Do you have to keep them indoors? Or just shaded and well-watered?

Fuchsias definitely don't like our warm to hot summers. They have to be shaded and kept watered and misted. They look much better in the fall and into winter actually.
Our club member that does 100's of cuttings does them most of the year I believe and uses the lights indoors.
Ginny

We should swap places, Ginny. Fuchsia's love it here and I miss the sun ;)