Question
Hello!
I have several indoor plants, I want to get more, but I don't know exactly what it means when there's "full sun", "partial", "direct sun", so I don't know which plants to get. I got confused with all these labels because in several books I looked up plants that I've had or someone else had, kept them in a relatively shady room, and they grew very well, while the  book would say that it needs a lot of sunlight. What IS a lot of sunlight? Does that mean a particular amount of direct sunlight a day? Does a  well-lit room mean one where you could see sunspots on walls and floor or one that is just not dark?  The windows of the room I want to place the plants in face the Southeast direction. In the morning, I can say that it's definetly very sunny, something I'd probably call direct sun, for about 3 hours or so. Is direct sun, full sun, bright light the same thing?  Would something like that be good for plants that are labeled "full sun", "direct sun", bright light?
Thank you for your advice

Answer
Kate,

Confusing isn't it. And when the authors of different books don't even agree what do you do. Well I have had a ton of experience and sometimes I can be confused.  I have killed a lot of plants with too little light.

Yes, direct sun, full sun, and bright light are the same thing. In my book it would be sitting within 2 feet of a window that faces south, southeast, or southwest that has no sheers, the drapes stay open and no mini-blinds. Plants should get 4-6 hours of sunshine on their leaves and I bet that would include your southeast window.

Get 4 feet away from that same window or put up sheers and it becomes indirect light.

Low light is close to an east or west window where plants get a couple of hours of light.

If,on a day when the sun is shining all day, your hand will not cast a good shadow in a location where you want to place a plant, then no plant will grow there.

Plants will sometimes survive in less light than they need but they will not grow well and they will die much easier from over or under watering when they do not have as much light as they need. If you buy a specific plant you are welcome to write and ask my opinion of how much light it needs and I will be happy to tell you my opinion.
Good luck.
                                      Darlene