Definetly worth a try. I over winter plants with just poor window light. If they get really scraggely I prune them way back. Even if they don't flourish but just survive they will be way ahead of newly started plants when they go back outside next spring

John

I'm over wintering a couple small plants with desk lamps and compact fluorescent bulbs. I pruned them back(to about 8")after they dropped most of their leaves from the temp change and being dug up. They are now sprouting lots of new leaves and even some flowers. They both had aphids and I had to dust them with Sevin(my Safer soap couldn't do it)which took care of the problem.
Sounds like you have a good set-up. Good luck with it. It's fun to have some plants to "fuss over" during the winter.

I asked the same questions on the "lights" forum, thinking I would have to provide light to over-winter, but they said I could just trim them down to nubs, keep them in the dark, and make sure they are watered every other week. I ended up deciding to do this instead of getting lights. We'll see how it goes.

Here is a link that might be useful: message on

I will be interested to hear that comes out. Last year I attempted a similar experiment. After radically pruning

I potted up and put in the garage with the idea of minimal light and water and temps just above freezing. Unfortunately it got too cold in the garage and having no basement I brought them inside. Most still did well but not under the original conditions.

john

I know that you can overwinter chinense and pubescens, but what about annuum species? Is it possible or just more difficult? Will they drop their leaves and go dormant in cold/frosty weather and then recover in the Spring?