Plants do more than brighten a room. Indoor plants boast a slew of benefits including easing stress, boosting mood and cleaning the air in your home or office. Many plants actually filter toxins providing fresh, healthy air for those around them. Research suggests that having greenery in your environment lifts spirits and lowers anxiety, making it a lovely hobby for those searching for calm in a busy life. Great houseplants for those embarking on an indoor gardening journey include selections that are all very resilient, can handle infrequent watering and lower amounts of light. While there are scads of candidates, three stand out as favourites. Three great houseplants for beginners are Pothos, ZZ plants and Snake Plants. 

Three Great Houseplants for Beginners:

1. Pothos are trailing plants with heart-shaped leaves that are a snap to care for. Colours range from plain green and chartreuse to variegated patterns. They love bright, indirect light the best, but will adapt to low light, too. They don’t  fare well in direct sun and require watering only when the top inch of soil becomes dry. Pothos are known to be efficient purifiers of air and are fast-growers, offering instant gratification for houseplant aficionados.  Pothos are easy to find in big box stores, but if you’re looking for a unique specimen, try shopping online nurseries for fun varietals like Golden Pathos, Pearls and Jade, Neon Pathos, Cebu Blue or Marble Queen. A site with great reviews is plantvine.com
2. ZZ Plants are another low-maintenance choice. Known for their glossy, arching leaves they are able (like the Pothos) to tolerate low light and infrequent watering making them an excellent inside option. These plants actually prefer bright, indirect light and to be watered deeply, only when their soil has become completely dry. Some popular varieties include Zenzi, a compact plant with curly leaves, Chameleon (colorshifting leaves- very unusual!) and Raven, a dark-purple option. While ZZ plants are lovely, it is important to note that all parts of them are toxic, so keeping them away from children and pets is crucial! TheSill.com is an excellent site to visit while shopping for ZZ.
3. Last, but not least are Snake Plants. Evergreen perennials with stiff, upright leaves, Snake Plants are low-maintenance and resilient. Like the Pothos and ZZ Plant, they too are exceptional air purifiers, able to tolerate low light and infrequent watering but they differ greatly in appearance with their swordlike leaves. Like the ZZ Plant, care should be taken when choosing Snake Plants as they are toxic (though more mildly) to pets and children if ingested.  With over 70 species and cultivars in a dizzying array of patterns and colours they are commonly known by the names “mother-in-law’s tongue” and “viper’s bowstring hemp.” These make a lovely addition, because of their architecture,  to modern decor.  Eureka Farms online sells enormous Snake Plants if you’re looking for a statement plant.