Question
Hi Darlene

I have two newly acquired plants - an anthurium andreaneum and a croton.  Both appear to need med-high light, but I'm confused about what this means exactly:

Anthurium - I currently have this sitting on a bedside table, around 2.5 metres away from the window.  It seems to be a bright spot, but my hand only makes a very slight shadow on the leaves.  Some websites have suggested placing an anthurium in a windowsill, but isn't this direct sunlight, and too much for an indoor plant?  

Croton - is currently in my bathroom, where it's 'bright', but the windows are translucent.  

Is it a good idea to move my plants closer to a window for a few hours a day?  My concern is whether right near a windowsill etc is considered 'direct sun', which is supposedly not good?

Answer
Haldee,

Your anthurium is from Hawaii and loves the humidity of tropical islands. It would also love the humidity of your bathroom and the bright but subdued light like it would get in a tropical rain forest.

Your croton is a sun lover. In Florida you see them growing outside in the full hot Florida sun. It needs to be moved next to a south facing window with the blinds and drapes open all day long. When the night temperatures are above 10 degrees C. it can go outside in a location where it will get morning sun and some shade in the afternoon so it does not get sun burned at first. It can get moved into more sun slowly.

Many plants need direct sun even indoors. The directions that say indirect light are mostly incorrect. Because the sun does not shine into windows well most plants need as much sun as they can get. If you have a question about any plant you are welcome to write and ask me and I will let you know if it will be happier with more or less sun. Good luck.

Darlene