How much direct sun is needed?

Hey folks, I got a sweet little plant from a friend that was in very early flower. I put it in my garden and it hasn't returned to veg state yet. It's been about a month and it gets about 8 hrs. direct sunlight and the rest of the day is shaded. The buds aren't growing just not going away. The plant is growing fine. Does the shaded part of the day count as darkness? It's not dark by any means just shaded...

It will be just fine if it gets 6-8 hours a day of direct a day but the more the better. When it is shaded it does not count as darkness as the plant is still able to absorb what indirect sunlight it is geting.

Good to know...still a little wierd growing with preemy buds....