What is the substance of the occupancy: ft-candles? I just purchased the plant 'Strelitzia reginae', (bird of Paradise). I...

I just purchased the plant 'Strelitzia reginae', (bird of Paradise). I live in Chicago, IL and the instructions for the fastidiousness of this plant states that it prefers full sun, 4000-8000 ft-candles, but can tolerate 2000 ft-candles. What exactly does that mean in layman lingo? Can those terms be converted into degrees F, or converted into length of time it is exposed to the sun. My veranda faces south and gets nearly 6 to 7 hours of sun.
I put my banzai ficus out surrounded by...
Answers:    A candle is an hour of sunlight.If the plant says full sun you should be fine.Partial shade plants only resembling 2-4 candles,full sun like 4-8.The higher the number the longer it requirements to be in the full sun.When they start putting the 2000,or 4000,or 8000.I get lost.My husband is a landscaper and say it's just the candles I need to look at not the number 100,1000,10,000.So basicly if it say 4-or-4000 it is the same as 4 hours full sun.I hope I didn't confuse you more.
HELP!! I hold tried every suggestion i...
the permanent status is 'foot-candles'..

"Since light intensity is the primary factor in the photosynthesis of plants, horticulturalists recurrently measure and discuss optimum intensity for various plants contained by foot-candles. Full, unobstructed sunlight has an intensity of approximately 10,000 fc. An overcast day will produce an intensity of around 1,000 fc. The intensity of fluffy near a window can stock from 100 to 5,000 fc, depending on the orientation of the window, time of year and latitude."