The cold, dark days of winter can be tough on your mental health. One of the best ways of mitigating the gloom? Brighten up your house or apartment with plants. Houseplants, of course, can be a lot of work. The survival of some species hinges on diligent care—to the point that they can start to feel more like pets than plants. The good news (for those of us without green thumbs) is that there are many houseplants that require only basic care and upkeep.
As winter bears down, we got in touch with Erin Marino, editorial lead at The Sill and a houseplant savant, to get the scoop on some of these beautiful-but-hardy plants. From philodendron to pothos and more, any of the picks below will help you turn your home into a lush refuge this winter.
The Best Low-Effort Houseplants
Courtesy of The Sill
1. The Snake Plant
If you’ve struggled to keep plants alive in the past, turn your attention to the snake plant, a vibrant, green-and-yellow beauty that is not only tough—it’s NASA-approved.
“The snake plant is famous for having a spot on NASA’s top ten air-filtering plants list,” Marino tells Men’s Journal. “It’s been said to purify indoor air by removing toxins such as formaldehyde, xylene, and toluene. But it’s also popular for being both low-light and drought-tolerant.”
The snake plant is naturally adapted to survive droughts: It only needs to be watered once every few weeks. In fact, the biggest danger with this plant is overwatering it. Marino recommends waiting for the plant’s potting mix to dry out before watering. If you see the leaves wrinkling, that’s also a sign it needs water.
Care Instructions:
The snake plant does best in medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light.
Water your snake plant every 2 to 3 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out before you water again. You’ll need to water it more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
You’ve probably spotted pothos plants on desks and bookshelves, and they’re often placed quite far from the nearest window. There’s a reason for that: This resilient houseplant can survive almost anywhere. The pothos also scores points for being easy to propagate—meaning you can create more of them without buying more.
“I can’t say enough good things about the pothos plant,” Marino says. “It’ll tolerate just about any environment. It’s even sometimes referred to as the ‘cubicle plant’ because of its tolerance to less than ideal conditions like low natural light.”
A great choice for first-time gardeners, pothos has quick-growing vines that can reach up to 10 feet long—ideal for draping over shelves or livening up any spot that’s in need of some green. You can also snip these vines and put them in water to propagate new plants, says Marino. Better yet, pothos plants have also been shown to filter indoor air pollutants.
Care Instructions:
Pothos thrives in medium indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light. It’s not suited for intense, direct sun.
Water your pothos plant every 1 to 2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out before you water again. You’ll need to water it more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
The ZZ plant doesn’t get thirsty very often because it has built-in water storage compartments called rhizomes. These plants are also low-light tolerant, and they’re a great choice if you’re busy, forgetful, or both.
“Having evolved in arid environments, these plants have developed rhizomes that store water to help them survive droughts in their natural habitat,” says Marino. “They can, and actually prefer to, go weeks without water.”
Care Instructions:
The ZZ plant thrives in medium to bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light. It’s not suited for intense, direct sun.
Water your ZZ plant every 2 to 3 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out completely before you water again. Expect to water the plant more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
Anthurium is very low-maintenance, but that’s hardly the best thing about it. It’s considered the world’s longest-blooming houseplant, meaning it can add a splash of color to your space pretty much any time.
“Sometimes flowering plants can be trickier to care for, but the anthurium’s blooms aren’t actual flowers—they’re modified, waxy leaves,” says Marino. “Its blooms will show up year-round, and each can last up to eight weeks.”
Care Instructions:
This plant thrives in bright indirect light, but can tolerate medium indirect light. Keep it away from direct sun.
Water your anthurium every 1 to 2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out between waterings. You’ll have to water it more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
This plant can also benefit from extra humidity. If you have a humidifier at home, place it nearby.
The philodendron is one of the most popular houseplants in the world, and there’s a reason for that. It’s not only lush and beautiful; it’s also very simple to care for. Like the pothos, the philodendron is also easy to propagate, meaning you can fill your home with them (as long as you have more pots and potting soil).
“The philodendron is one of our most popular plants,” Marino says. “Its heart-shaped green leaves, incredibly easy-going nature, and quick-growing trailing vines make it a popular pick for beginners and collectors alike.”
Care Instructions:
Philodendrons thrive in medium-to-bright indirect light, but can tolerate low indirect light.
Water your philodendron every 1 to 2 weeks, allowing the soil to dry out before you water again. The plant will need to be watered more often in brighter light and less often in lower light.
There’s no doubt when the weather turns colder as we settle into winter, stouts take center stage. And while we enjoy all its iterations: standard stout, imperial stout, and robust barrel-aged stouts, we think this malty, chocolate-filled beer’s close cousin deserves a little respect as well. Of course, we’re talking about the oft-overlooked porter. And the best porters, oh buddy, they’ll have you rethinking your seasonal bevvie of choice.
For those uninitiated, the porter style had its genesis in England like many other iconic beer styles. It first appeared in the 1700s and is (you guessed it) named after porters—individuals tasked with transporting luggage.
A confusing origin story
“Stout is the direct descendant of porter. In the 1700s, it was common to use the word ‘stout’ to refer to a bolder, higher-alcohol version of any beer style, much in the same way we use the word ‘imperial’ today,” says Zach Fowle, advanced cicerone and head of marketing for Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co. in Phoenix, AZ. “Porter was the most popular beer of the day, and over time, “stout porter” became a popular variant. But by the late 1800s, demand for regular porters evaporated, and stout porter shortened simply to stout.”
But more has changed between the 1800s and today than just our penchant for wearing top hats. “Today, most brewers seem to market beers as either stout or porter based on vibes, rather than on any notable stylistic differences,” he says.
Specifically, porters are known for their dark, almost pitch-black color and rich, sweet flavor profile. If you were to drink a porter and a stout side by side, you might even have difficulty discerning the differences between the two.
Stout versus porter is an enduring topic of discussion in the brewing industry. “While there’s no debating the porter came first—and stout used to be called stout porter, so it was a stronger version of a porter—the lines have become very blurred over the years,” says Rob Lightner, co-founder of East Brother Brewing in Richmond, CA.
“I would venture that even among professionals, a blind taste test would often yield inconclusive results,” says Lightner.
The difference between porters and stouts
Porters tend to be on the milder, more chocolatey end of the spectrum, Lightner says, whereas stouts are typically a little stronger and more roasty. Of course, this isn’t a hard and fast rule
Fowle agrees, “Porters tend to be fruitier, sweeter, and less bitter than stouts, with cocoa and caramel flavors in balance with dark malt bitterness. And stouts are usually hoppier, drier, maltier, and more coffee-forward—and may even have a touch of acidity.”
Whether or not they fit neatly into boxes, one thing’s for sure: both make for incredible cold-weather brews.
“As the nights grow longer, drinking a light, summery beer just doesn’t seem right,” says Fowle. “Porter is the perfect style for the transition to winter: warming and toasty yet not too heavy, with flavors of coffee, chocolate, and pie crust that correspond with autumn weather and holidays.”
It’s the perfect time to broaden your repretoire. Sweet, robust, warming, and well-suited to the season, here are the best porters to drink now.
Courtesy image
1. Deschutes Black Butte Porter
There are few porters more well-respected than Deschutes’ iconic Black Butte Porter. It’s brewed with Cascade and Tettnang hops as well as 2-row, Chocolate, Crystal, and Carapils malts as well as wheat. This 5.5% ABV year-round offering is great for cold-weather drinking because of its mix of roasted malts, coffee, and chocolate. It’s a robust, subtly sweet beer perfect for imbibing on a crisp fall night.
The key to 360-degree muscle: 90-degree eccentric isometrics. It might seem like we’re throwing a lot of geometry at you, but the concept behind time under tension (TUT) is simple, says Joel Seedman, PhD, owner of Advanced Human Performance: “Perform the lowering phase of a movement in a slow, controlled fashion, usually 3 to 5 seconds; pause in the stretched position, typically around 90 degrees; then perform the lifting phase in a powerful yet controlled fashion.” Believe us, a time-under-tension workout can humble even seasoned lifters…Eccentric isometrics are like the pressure cooker of training.
“Rather than mindlessly performing slow-tempo reps, you’re using the increased time under tension as a means to fine-tune your body mechanics and alignment, which requires more mental engagement and focus,” Seedman adds.
If you want to forge functional muscle mass and strength while simultaneously bulletproofing the joints and connective tissue, give this 10-move, full-body eccentric isometrics workout a go.
Directions
Perform the following moves as 90-degree eccentric isometrics following the above protocol. Use heavy weight, but not at the detriment of proper form. Rest 60 to 90 seconds between sets and 2 minutes between circuits. Perform once every 2 to 4 days for optimal results.
Best Time-Under-Tension Workout for Total-Body Strength
Circuit 1
Marius Bugge
A. Barbell Back Squat
Set a squat rack up with heavy weight, then grasp bar and step under it. Squeeze shoulder blades together, then stand to unrack bar and step back with feet shoulder-width apart. Inhale, hinge at hips and slowly bend knees to 90 degrees. Pause, keeping natural arch in low back, then extend through hips to powerfully stand. 3 x 4-6 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Renegade Row
Start in the top position of a pushup with hands shoulder-width apart on moderate-to-heavy dumbbells (shown). Explosively drive right elbow back to row dumbbell toward ribs while balancing on opposite hand and feet. Pause, then slowly lower weight, stopping a few inches above floor. Switch sides after all reps are done. 3 x 5 reps each side
Circuit 2
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bentover Row
Stand with feet hip-width apart, holding two moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in front of thighs, palms facing you. Push hips back and hinge torso forward so it’s nearly parallel to floor, soft bend in knees. Dumbbells should be near shins. Drive elbows back to row weights toward ribs. Pause, then slowly lower down for 3 to 5 seconds. 3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Incline Dumbbell Chest Press with Legs Raised
Set an adjustable bench to a 30- to 45-degree angle and lie back with dumbbells in either hand. Engage core and lift legs off floor, flexing feet. Press weights overhead, palms in. Slowly lower to 90 degrees, staying tight and compact. Pause, then drive weights up directly over chest. 3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 3
Marius Bugge
A. Dumbbell Bulgarian Squat
Stand lunge-length in front of a flat bench, holding heavy dumbbells in each hand by your sides, palms facing in. Rest the ball on top (shoe’s laces) of your right foot behind you on the bench. Slowly lower your body until your front thigh is parallel to the floor. Pause, then drive through your heel to stand. Switch sides after all reps are complete. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Marius Bugge
B. Single-leg Romanian Deadlift
Stand with feet hip-width apart holding dumbbells or kettlebells. Drive right leg up, foot flexed, knee aligned with hip, making a 90-degree angle. Hinge at hips as you slowly lever your torso toward floor, lowering weights and driving right leg back for counterbalance. Hold, then squeeze glutes to reverse. 2 x 3-4 reps each side
Circuit 4
Marius Bugge
A. Pullup
Hang from a pullup bar using an overhand grip with legs extended and feet flexed. Engage lats and draw shoulders down your back, then pull yourself up until chin is higher than hands. Pause at the top, then slowly lower. Pause at bottom, then reset before your next rep. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Marius Bugge
B. Kneeling Overhead Barbell Press
Hold a bar with moderate-to-heavy load at shoulder level with forearms perpendicular to floor. Kneel at end of bench with feet flexed to grip edge for support. Inhale, engage your core and glutes, then press the bar overhead, pushing your head forward so it passes your face, exhaling at the top. Slowly lower until elbows are at 90 degrees, then hold to maintain tension. Begin your next rep from here. 2-3 x 4-5 reps
Circuit 5
A. Dumbbell Pushup
Place hands on dumbbells (this provides greater range of motion) at shoulder width and feet wider than shoulder width with just toes touching the ground. Keep head neutral and hips high to increase tension on core, chest and tris and reduce stress on spine. Slowly lower to the floor. Stop once elbows hit 90 degrees, pause, then push up to start. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
B. Biceps Curl
Stand with feet hip-width apart with moderate-to-heavy dumbbells in each hand hanging by sides. Engage biceps to curl the weights up, keeping upper arms still. Pause at the top, then lower slowly. Don’t let arms drop all the way down to keep greater time under tension on biceps. 1-2 x 6-8 reps
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If you haven’t picked up a jump rope since elementary school, you’re missing out on a fantastic cardio workout. Not only will you burn a ton of calories in a short amount of time—200 to 300 calories in 15 minutes—but jump ropes can also improve your coordination and agility. Better yet, jumping rope doesn’t require much space, so it’s easy to do at home, and it’s often more mentally stimulating than jogging or swimming.
Choosing a Jump Rope
When deciding which jump rope is best for you, it’s important to determine what your goals are. While lightweight speed ropes are popular for cardio-focused training, weighted or drag ropes will be best for those focused on strength training.
No matter what your training goals are, we’ve got you covered with this roundup of 10 jump ropes from top brands including Crossrope, TRX, Rogue, and more.
The Best Jump Ropes of 2022
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