i never thought i'd say this - but listen to tom on this one (hah hah jk tom)

yah indirect - someplace where it is light during the day but doesn't have the sun shining RIGHT ON IT.

- marissa

- my husband does the bonsai stuff and he's got some good ones going right now

This is starting to sound like more work than I'm willing to put into a plant!

How exactly do you check how wet the soil is without getting dirt all over and hurting the plant? It says to stick my finger an inch into the soil.

-Rudey

A ficus is a good starting plant... so is a juniper. With the ficus, indirect sunlight can mean a few different methods.

1. Keep it near a Northern or Southern window seal. Make sure that the windows isn't drafty with cold air. The cold will kill it. This is particularly good in the winter months.

2. Purchase a grow lamp. Search the web and you'll find tons of different types. My advice is to stick with a "full spectrum" bulb as these mimic the suns rays the best.

3. In the summer, you can place the tree outside when temps stay consistently over 70 degrees. You'll need to provide shade to prevent the leaves from burning. The best way, again in my opinion, is to create a shelter for it using cheese cloth. Different thicknesses will filter out different levels of light.

As for watering, you shouldn't let it completely dry out between waterings. Once you've done it for a while you'll be able to pick up the plant in its pot and feel by it's weight to know if it needs water. Until then, use a toothpick or whatever to poke into the soil. If it's damp enough then hold off for another day. You'll need to check once a day. Daily and light mistings with a water spray bottle are helpful too. It helps keep the humidity up.

Lots more info is available on the web. If you have any questions just ask. Care for the juniper is completely different but I can help you out there too.

Mike

Mike, I've got some windows with good sun exposure. Here's my problem. It's not drafty but where I live it's cold outside so the windows still get cold you know? Should I still keep it there or somewhere else with a lamp?

-Rudey

Place a thermometer near the window to see just how cold it is there.

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