I have not heard of ficus being poisonous to pets, though I know they do have a milky latex sap. They would be good for growing indoors all year round- very adaptable to both dry and moist conditions, and both low and intense light. So would schefflera arboricola and crassula ovata.

Check out the bonsaihunk website for ficus and schef. There are good examples of jade trees in gardenweb cacti and succulents forum, and HERE.

ez

thx for the help! schefflera arboricola look promising and interesting. what do you think about chinese elm?

It's a common beginner's tree, b/c it is relatively forgiving. I am not familiar enough with them, but I know there is a significant unresolved argument in bonsai about whether or not the Chinese elm can be grown indoors all year round. Some say it will adjust to a lack of hibernation period, but admit it does not look as robust this way. Others argue that it is just slowly dwindling to its eventual demise this way, and that the only long term way to grow it is to let it hibernate in 20-30F winters.

ez