I'm a Tech Writer, and These Are My Favorite Black Friday Sales on Laptops

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Laptops are one of the most commonly discounted items on Black Friday, whether you prefer MacBooks, PC laptops, Chromebooks, or gaming machines. Sales are running across Amazon, Best Buy, retailer websites, and more, with price cuts as hefty as $400 off on laptops packed with top-of-the-line specs and modern hardware. Prices are accurate as of the time of writing, but you can expect them to fluctuate and inventory to sell out, so you may not want to hesitate if you see a sale that grabs you. And if you’re interested in a new tablet or phone as well, see our best Black Friday tech deals page for a broader view of all the best discounts you can get right now.

Best Black Friday MacBook Deals

Apple 2024 MacBook Air 13-inch Laptop with M3 chip: Built for Apple Intelligence, 13.6-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB Unified Memory, 256GB SSD Storage, Backlit Keyboard, Touch ID; Starlight

$844.00 at Amazon

$1,099.00 Save $255.00

$844.00 at Amazon

$1,099.00 Save $255.00

Apple aficionados have plenty to choose from this Black Friday, with deals across the company’s entire lineup of in-house M-series chips.

• Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M3 Chip: $849 at Amazon (was $1,099). This is Apple’s most recent MacBook Air, complete with the M3 chip, a base 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. That’s more than enough for most people.

• Apple MacBook Air 15-inch with M3 Chip: $1,044 at Amazon (was $1,299). Largely similar to its 13-inch counterpart, this MacBook Air comes with a 15-inch screen, an M3 chip, up to 24GB of memory, and up to 512GB of storage.

• Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M2 Chip: $749 at Amazon (was $999). If you’re OK going with a slightly older model, the M2 MacBook Air with 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is $100 cheaper than the M3 model right now.

• Apple MacBook Air 13-inch with M1 Chip: $599 at Walmart (was $699). Apple’s oldest M-series MacBook Air is still a strong workhorse, with an M1 chip, 8GB of memory, and 256GB of storage, although the smaller discount here might not make the compromise worth it.

• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M3 Pro Chip: $1,699 at Best Buy (was $1,899). A slightly older model of MacBook Pro, this 14-inch laptop boasts an M3 Pro chip, 18GB of memory, and a 512GB SSD. It’s a good compromise between a MacBook Air and a MacBook Pro.

• Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M3 Pro Chip: $1,999 at Best Buy (was $2,399). A screen upgrade on the M3 Pro Macbook Pro (not a typo), this model also has 18GB of memory and a 512GB SSD, but comes with a 16-inch display.

• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 Chip: $1,399 at Amazon (was $1,499). Apple’s most recent M4 chip is also on sale for Black Friday, and this MacBook Pro supplements it with a 14-inch display, up to 24GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage. (Note that a base M4 chip might actually be weaker than an M3 Pro chip, depending on what you’re using it for.)

• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 Pro Chip: $1,749 at Amazon (was $1,999). Or just do away with compromises. If you want a pro-level MacBook with a pro-level chip, this is a great pick. You’ll get a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Pro chip, 24GB of memory, and up to 1TB of storage.

• Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Pro Chip: $2,199 at Amazon (was $2,499). This 16-inch screen upgrade to the M4 Pro MacBook Pro, with the same chip, up to 48GB of memory, and 512GB of storage.

• Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch with M4 Max Chip: $2,899 at Amazon (was $3,199). This deal on Apple’s top-of-the-line MacBook Pro comes with an M4 Max chip, 36GB of memory, and 1TB of storage.

• Apple MacBook Pro 16-inch with M4 Max chip: $3,199 at Amazon (was $3,499). A screen-size upgrade to the M4 Max MacBook Pro, this deal will net you a 16-inch display, 36GB of memory, and a 1TB SSD.

Best Black Friday Windows Laptop Deals

Dell - Inspiron 16” 2-in-1 Mini-LED Touch Laptop Intel Core Ultra 7 Processor - 32GB Memory – 1TB SDD - Intel Arc Graphics - Midnight Blue

$999.99 at Best Buy

$1,499.99 Save $500.00

$999.99 at Best Buy

$1,499.99 Save $500.00

For those who, like me, grew up with a Windows PC, there’s still plenty of deals on the tried-and-true standard this Black Friday, especially for those looking for something that can go toe-to-toe with a MacBook Air.

• Dell Inspiron 16-inch with Intel Core Ultra 7 Chip: $1,000 at Best Buy (was $1,500). This Windows laptop comes equipped with a modern Intel Core Ultra 7 chip and a lot of bonuses for the price point, including a convertible Mini-LED touch screen, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB of storage.

• Dell Inspiron 15-inch with AMD Ryzen 7 Chip: $450 at Dell (was $700). This Windows laptop is a respectable mid-ranger, with a Ryzen 7 7730U chip, 16GB of memory, 1TB of storage, and a 15-inch non-to
  
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The 10th Gen iPad Is an Absolute Steal at $250 Right Now

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Apple products can be pretty hard to score a good deal on, and you’ll often have to settle on a minor discount if you’re going to get a discount at all. But Amazon’s current sale on the 10th Generation iPad is different, combining an instant 20% discount and a $29.01 coupon to bring the price down to just $250. Considering that the tablet was $449 when it launched, this new deal price gives it a huge bump in value. The bad news is that inventory is low—it's been fluctuating throughout Black Friday—but it's not sold out as of this writing.

Apple iPad (2022)

$259.00 at Amazon

$349.00 Save $90.00

$259.00 at Amazon

$349.00 Save $90.00

The 10th Generation iPad may be a couple years old, but it still has plenty going for it. The A14 Bionic chip inside is no slouch, and it proved quite capable in our friends over at PCMag’s testing. For casual browsing, reading, streaming, and drawing, it ought to be plenty. Apple isn’t one to quickly leave its products behind when it comes to software updates either, so it should last for a good while yet. 

The iPad offers up a sharp 10.9-inch display, and it supports the 1st Generation Apple Pencil. With Apple’s stylus, you can jot down notes or get creative with the wide variety of drawing and painting applications available to the tablet. It’s also possible to pair the tablet with a keyboard folio to use it in lieu of a laptop. The tablet also offers quality cameras on the front and back that you can use for video calls or photography. And it includes a Touch ID button on the edge for quick, secure logins.

The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $153.99 (List Price $249.00)

Apple iPad 10.9" 64GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (2022 Release) — $249.99 (List Price $349.00)

Meta Quest 3S 128GB VR Headset + $75 Digital Credit — (List Price $299 With Code "QUEST75")

Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) — $99.99 (List Price $259.99)

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $199.00 (List Price $349.00)

Apple Watch Series 10 (GPS, 42mm, Black, S/M, Sports Band) — $329.00 (List Price $399.00)

Samsung Odyssey G93SC 49" Dual QHD OLED Curved Monitor — $949.99 (List Price $1,599.99)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

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The Best New Movies to Stream This Week

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Looking to settle in with a good movie? Me too. That's why I've pored over release schedules to bring you the best original and new-to-streaming movies you can watch on Netflix, Prime, Max, Hulu, and other streaming platforms this week.

As you'd expect, Thanksgiving week streaming releases are heavy on holiday movies. I need some seasonal cheer in my life, so I'm going to curl up on the couch and check out Lindsay Lohan in Netflix's Xmas flick Our Little Secret and Max's Thanksgiving-themed Sweethearts. Then I'm gonna chase it with the weirdest holiday flick of all, The Polar Express, on Hulu. I'm also gonna drink a ton of egg nog.

Our Little Secret

Our Little Secret is a holiday-scented romantic comedy that stars Lindsay Lohan, the queen of Christmas, along with Kristin Chenoweth, Ian Harding, and Tim Meadows. Lohan plays Avery, whose holiday visit with her boyfriend's family gets really weird. See, she used to date his brother, so, to keep the peace and survive the holiday, the pair agree to keep their past a secret. Hilarity and romance ensue.

Where to stream: Netflix

Sweethearts

In romantic comedy Sweethearts, Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga play best friends who return to their hometown from college for Thanksgiving break. (Hey! It's premiering on that weekend in real life!) They're both still tied to their respective high school sweethearts and make a pact to end the relationships. Will love blossom between these just-friends before the weekend is over? I would bet on "yes" but no one will take my action.

Where to stream: Max

Top-tier holiday movie pack

On November 27, just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday, Hulu is offering a collection of beloved holiday classics for your viewing pleasure, including Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, and The Polar Express. Below is the full list of S-tier (OK, there's some A- and B-tier in there too) holiday flicks.

• Elf (2003)

• Four Christmases (2008)

• Fred Claus (2007)

• Jack Frost (1998)

• National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)

• The Polar Express (2004)

Where to stream: Hulu

Second-tier holiday movie pack

They can't all be timeless holiday classics. Throughout the month of November, Hulu is streaming a grip of "pretty good, I guess" Christmas-themed movies to go along with the bangers above, including curiosities like Holiday in Handcuffs, Rotten Tomatoes-approved winners like Christmas at the Ranch, and A Royal Corgi Christmas, because dogs should have holidays too—especially dogs with monarchal power.

• Christmas on the Ranch (2021)

• Holiday in Handcuffs (2007)

• The Mistle-Tones (2012)

• Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)

• Santa's Little Helper (2015)

• Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe (2009)

• A Cowboy Christmas Romance (2023)

• Christmas at the Golden Dragon (2022)

• Christmas in Evergreen: Bells Are Ringing (2020)

• Christmas at the Chalet (2023)

• A Royal Corgi Christmas (2022)

Where to stream: Hulu

Beatles '64

A lot of people seem to really like this band, The Beatles. If you're one of them, check out Beatles '64. It was produced by Martin Scorsese, and it's a little tighter than Peter Jackson's 2021 documentary mini-series Get Back. Instead of vérité footage of over-it-all musicians sniping at each other over breakfast for eight hours, you get 1 hour and 46 minutes of archival interviews from when The Beatles were fun, concert footage, and interviews detailing the cultural and artistic impact of the band's first visit to America and the Beatlemania that followed.

Where to stream: Disney+

Last week's picks

The Merry Gentlemen

With The Merry Gentlemen, Netflix is leaning into the combination of hunky guys and Christmas. The titular gentlemen are strippers, employed by Ashley (Britt Robertson) in an effort to save her parents' small-town performing arts venue. Expect a lot of abs, a lot of laughs, and lot of old fashioned Christmas romance in this mildly horny holiday flick.

Where to stream: Netflix

Spellbound

Netflix is gunning for animation superiority: The streaming service has employed heavy hitters like director Vicky Jenson (Shrek), songwriter Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and voice actors including Rachel Zegler, Nicole Kidman, and Javier Bardem to bring Spellbound to life. This family-friendly fantasy tells the tale of Ellian (Zegler), the princess of Lumbria, who embarks on daring quest to save her family and kingdom after a spell transforms her parents into monsters. 

Where to stream: Netflix

The Piano Lesson 

Adapted from the stage play by August Wilson and starring Samuel L. Jackson, John David Washington, and Danielle Deadwyler, The Piano Lesson follows the lives of the Charles family, whose family legacy is expressed on a piano decorated with carvings by their enslaved ancestors. One brother (John David Washington) hopes to sell it, while his sister (Danielle Deadwyler), refuses to give it up.

Where to stream: Netflix

The Honorable Shyne

Moses Michael Levi Barrow, aka Shyne, is best known for a 1999 nightclub shooting connected Sean Combs. Allegedly, the aspiring rapper took the fall for Puffy and served a 10-year bid in the pen for his trouble. Once freed, he was deported to Belize, but that isn't the end of Shyne's story. The Honorable Shyne looks at the shooting, the sentence, and Shyne's post-prison life in Belizean politics. It's an amazing story, and if you're looking for a true tale of redemption, you'll love this movie.

Where to stream: Hulu

Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy

I don't want to alarm you, but according to Netflix documentary Buy Now: The Shopping Conspiracy, retailers often use questionable tactics to get people to buy things—often things they don't even need! Through interviews with whistleblowers and industry insiders, this documentary shines a light on the covert psychological manipulation that capitalists use to make you spend money, with an eye on the true price of out-of-control consumption.

Where to stream: Netflix

Adam Ray Presents: Dr. Phil UNLEASHED

Comedian Adam Ray does a lot of impressions, but his portrayal of blowhard TV doctor Dr. Phil as a foul-mouthed, oversexed reprobate is the standout by a mile. It's not just that he looks and sounds like Dr. Phil, Ray is so in touch with Dr. Phil's Dr. Phil-ness, it's like he's channeling the man's id, saying everything you know Dr. Phil would say if he could. That impression takes center stage in Adam Ray Presents: Dr. Phil UNLEASHED.

Where to stream: Netflix

Jeff Dunham's Scrooged-Up Holiday Special

Jeff Dunham and his collection of wooden pals take on the holidays in this new stand-up special. Specifically, this is a take on Dickens' A Christmas Carol in which Walter plays Scrooge and argues with with Bubba J, Peanut, Little Jeff and Achmed over their assigned parts in the story. My life's mission is to watch every version of A Christmas Carol, so this one is high on my personal gotta watch list.

Where to stream: Prime

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This MagSafe-Compatible Power Bank Is 40% Off for Black Friday

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The Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) is now available for $53.99, down from $89.99, and comes in black, blue, green, purple, and white. It packs a 10,000mAh battery capacity, offering 27W wired charging through a USB-C port and 15W wireless charging for iPhones (12 series and up). And with Wireless PowerIQ (Anker's proprietary fast-charging tech) and the Qi2 standard, it claims to charge the latest iPhones more efficiently. The magnetic hold of this power bank is said to be strong enough to keep your phone securely in place, whether you’re charging it vertically or horizontally. That said, the wireless charging area lacks padding, which could be a concern if you’re particular about avoiding scratches.

Anker MagGo Power BAnk, 10,000mAh Battery Pack

$53.99 at Amazon

$89.99 Save $36.00

$53.99 at Amazon

$89.99 Save $36.00

This power bank comes equipped with a foldable/flip-out stand, so you can prop up your phone while it charges, and if you turn it sideways, it doubles as a hands-free setup for streaming or browsing in landscape mode. However, it’s a bit on the bulkier side, so it's better suited for tossing into a bag than pocketing it with your phone attached. If portability is your top priority, the Anker 321 MagGo (5K), now $19.99 (down from $25.99), might be a more practical option.

The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $153.99 (List Price $249.00)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet — $149.00 (List Price $219.99)

Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $21.99 (List Price $49.99)

Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (3-Pack) — $99.99 (List Price $259.99)

Dell Inspiron 15 3535 Ryzen 7 1TB SSD 16GB RAM Laptop — $449.99 (List Price $699.99)

Seagate Portable 4TB External USB 3.0 Hard Drive — $99.90 (List Price $124.99)

Bose QuietComfort Wireless Noise Cancelling Headphones — $199.00 (List Price $349.00)

Deals are selected by our commerce team

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All the Best Black Friday Deals for Xbox, PlayStation, Switch, and PC Gamers

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Black Friday is a great time to shop for video games, whether as gifts, or for yourself (I won't tell anyone). Right now, there are sales on all sorts of games, consoles, and gaming-related accessories, whether you prefer to play on Xbox, Switch, PlayStation, PC, or even a smartphone.

(If you’re interested in a new tablet or phone as well, head on over to our best Black Friday tech deals page for a broader view of all the best discounts you can get right now.)

Best Black Friday console deals

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition – Fortnite Cobalt Star Bundle

$374.99 at Amazon

$374.99 at Amazon

To play a video game, you must first have a system to play it on. Here are the best Black Friday deals on PS5, Switch, and Xbox consoles and bundles.

• PS5 Slim Digital Edition Fortnite Bundle: $375 at Amazon (was $450). This digital edition of Sony's PlayStation 5 console has a slimmer build than launch models and eschews a disc drive, but comes with a DualSense controller, 1,000 V-Bucks, and a few Fortnite cosmetics.

• PS5 Slim Disc Edition Fortnite Bundle: $425 at Amazon (was $500). This slim version of Sony's PlayStation 5 console has a disc drive for playing physical games and comes with a DualSense controller, 1,000 V-Bucks, and a handful of Fortnite cosmetics.

• Nintendo Switch OLED with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: $275 at Target (was $350). If you don't yet have a Nintendo Switch, this is the deal to get, giving you the console's upgraded version, plus one of its most popular games, for less than $300.

• Nintendo Switch with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe: $225 at Best Buy (was $300). This Nintendo Switch is a little less pretty to look at than the OLED model, but that won't matter if you mostly play on your TV. It runs games just as well and comes with Mario Kart 8 Deluxe.

• Microsoft Xbox Series S 512GB: $250 at Target (was $300). This entry-level Xbox allows players access to the Xbox library and ecosystem, albeit with a few performance compromises. Comes with an Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller.

• Microsoft Xbox Series X 1TB: $400 at Best Buy (was $450). Microsoft's top-of-the-line Xbox, the Xbox Series X can play the console's entire library at maximum fidelity. Comes with an Xbox Core Wireless Gaming Controller.

• Meta Quest 3S: $300 at Amazon with free $75 gift card. While Meta's freshly released budget revamp of the Meta Quest 3 isn't exactly on sale at the moment, you can snag it in a bundle with Batman: Arkham Shadow and a $75 Amazon gift card (with code QUEST75 at checkout) if you act fast.

• PlayStation VR2: $350 at Amazon (was $550). This massive deal is so large that Amazon's website can't actually display it properly. Right now, you can get Sony's second VR headset for $250 off its launch price, which will grant PS5 owners access to Sony's PSVR 2 library (though oddly enough, not PSVR 1 titles) and PC owners a new way to play their SteamVR games. This isn't exactly a console in the traditional sense, as it's not standalone— you'll need either a PS5 or a PC to use it.

Best Black Friday game controller deals

Sony - PlayStation 5 - DualSense Wireless Controller - White

$54.00 at Amazon

$74.99 Save $20.99

$54.00 at Amazon

$74.99 Save $20.99

Even if you've already got a console, you always need more controllers.

• PlayStation DualSense Wireless Controller: $54 at Amazon (was $75). PS5 controllers can be a bit more finicky to connect to other devices than Xbox controllers, but have improved greatly in this regard over the years, and come with plenty of extra haptics that might justify their higher price tag to some gamers.

• Nintendo Switch Pro Controller: $50 at Best Buy (was $70). Nintendo's official Pro controller is rarely on sale, and offers an official way to get a more traditional gamepad layout on the Nintendo Switch, complete with motion controls.

• Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons (Pair): $60 at Target (was $80). Everyone always needs additional Joy-Cons. Your Switch comes with two by default, but having more makes it easier to swap in new Joy-Con so you can keep playing if the battery dies. Alternatively, you can offer your extras to buddies for multiplayer play.

• Hori Split Pad Pro for Nintendo Switch: $42.49 at Best Buy (was $50). The Hori Split Pad Pro sometimes feels like a downright necessary upgrade for playing the Switch in portable mode, making it far more comfortable to hold over extended periods.

• CRKD Nitro Deck+ for Nintendo Switch: $50 at Amazon (was $70). This alternate Joy-Con replacement acts as a full external shell for the Nintendo Switch, essentially giving it a much more Steam Deck style look and feel.

• 8BitDo Ultimate Bluetooth Controller: $48 at Amazon (was $70). This is a reliable third-party alternative t
  
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Three Ways to Grow Herbs Indoors When You’re Tight on Space

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I live in a small house. The floor is accounted for, which is problematic if you're looking for places to put plants—so I've embraced the ceiling and walls of my home for greenery and herbs I like to grow inside through winter. It's not only that going vertical buys you additional space; having plants at different heights can also make your home feel warmer and livelier during the coldest months of the year. Here are three ways you can grow herbs vertically in your home.

Set up a "living wall system"

In my home, I have Florafelt Pocket Panels, which are a living wall system designed to let plants breathe while also keeping the walls dry. Florafelt uses heavy duty wool backed by plastic to create a self-wicking planter that can hold multiple plants in each pocket. The plastic ensures you don't damage the wall, but the pockets always stay a little moist, giving the plants the water they need. You can water it manually, or choose a water circulating model (I DIYed my own circulator). I have the Florafelt at home, and I've been happy with it for the past five years.

Wall-mounted trellises and planters

For a smaller footprint, choose individual wall planters or a trellis system. These individual plastic pots are the perfect size for most tender herbs like dill, parsley, cilantro and basil. They're lightweight, and inexpensive, and—most importantly—self-watering. This means you water them less frequently, and the pot itself stores water, feeding it to the plant as it needs it.

I also like the Hang Oasi wall systems. A single wall unit holds up to six plants and has a built in system for watering; you add water to the top and it filters to all the plants. This would be perfect in a kitchen with indirect light for your six favorite herbs.

Lastly, this rustic but large wall trellis will afford you plenty of room for all the herbs you could imagine—if you have the wall space. Each of the three planters has drains so you can control where the water goes.

Hanging planters

Don't simply look to the walls: Consider your ceilings, too. Hanging planters allow you to take advantage of different hanging heights; you can even tuck hanging plants amongst hanging lights for a beautiful effect. Hanging plants work in any room. This inexpensive three tier planter is modern enough to fit basically anywhere. I quite like this long hanging planter with four individual pots, as well.

How to care for herbs indoors

Herbs have basic needs, and since you're growing them inside, you'll either need enough indirect sunlight from a nearby window, or you'll need to manufacture some sunlight. The way to do that is with plant lights. You can simply replace a nearby lightbulb with a grow lightbulb, or get a specific light for the plant. There are gorgeous modern grow lights for your wall to go with your new planters. All plants need water, and herbs are no different. Herbs also benefit from some fertilizer, so I like to water them "once a week, weakly," which means you add a small amount of fertilizer to the water. Your favorite fertilizer will have instructions for how much to use, and I use half the recommended amount.

The key to longevity with herbs is consistently using them. Cutting them back hard as often as you can encourages them to grow back stronger. You're trying to avoid the herbs growing flowers and then seeds because at that point, the herbs are spent and you need to start over with a new plant.

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These Eight Houseplants Are Perfect for Beginners

For a long time—despite my outdoor gardening expertise—I steered clear of houseplants. Houseplants, I felt, rely on you too much. They bear no fruit, and they kind of … sit there. But over the pandemic, I decided that my living room needed more life and built out a plant wall. It was the start of a love affair with indoor plants—the key is starting with plants that are easy for beginners. I recommend starting with big, leafy plants, rather than succulents—there’s a higher payoff as new leaves emerge. Here are the plants I’d consider. 

Pothos

Credit: Firn/Shutterstock

I love walking into someone’s house and seeing a pothos claiming the space. Those long, trailing plants you see crawling someone’s walls and shelves? It’s likely a pothos, and they come in a huge variety of patterns and colors. While there are verdant solid green pothos, the plethora of variegation possible on the leaves is astounding. There are yellow varieties like Golden pothos, too. This is an easy, hard-to-kill plant. It requires little of you—use a relatively shallow planter, water once a week, and occasionally, give it some plant food. Support the trailing vines as they begin to grow using plant clips along the wall. A pothos can fill a large space easily, and will grow with you over time. 

Monstera

Credit: Fotyma/Shutterstock

Monsteras had a moment a few years ago, and remain very popular. There are varieties of monstera that can go for thousands of dollars, but your basic monstera deliciosa is easy and cheap. (If a friend has one, you can easily propagate theirs.) Monsteras are a split leaf variety of philodendron. Some varieties will develop holes (these varieties are referred to as cheese varieties). One of the charms of monsteras is that you can leave them in water, instead of planting them in soil, which I do.  

Spider plant

Credit: csikiphoto/Shutterstock

Spider plants were hugely popular in the '70s and have been a mainstay since then. Spider plants get their name because they form offshoots easily, similar to strawberry plants; each “baby” spider can be cut off and become its own plant. Spider plants grow larger, and so your main task is going to be ensuring that the pot the plant is in is large enough. Otherwise, spiders are easy to maintain—hang them and wait for baby spiders to “jump” from the pot. 

Bamboo plant

Credit: Michael Mong/Shutterstock

Outdoors, gardeners tend to avoid bamboo, due to its propensity to spread. Indoors, bamboo is popular and a common gift. Bamboo doesn’t require a lot of light, preferring low or medium light, and doesn’t even require soil. You can plant it in rocks or glass pebbles; you just need the roots submerged. Bamboo can benefit from a light fertilizer once or twice a year. 

Cast iron plant

Credit: Endah Kurnia P/Shutterstock

If you’re looking for a pet-safe, larger plant, consider a cast iron. With tall, long, graceful leaves on tiny but strong stems, cast iron is passive, as plants go. It requires the least amount of attention of all my plants. Once a year it shoots up a few new leaves, some of which stick straight up and some of which drape over the side of the planter. Like other plants, there are varieties of the cast iron that are more interesting than a standard green variety, with variegation and color shifts.

Ferns

Credit: Bintoen/Shutterstock

There are more ferns than you can imagine, and they come in so many shapes and textures. I am constantly in awe of the new varieties I fall in love with. Most people know asparagus ferns, which are the most resilient, in my opinion. They shoot out branches with tiny spiked leaves that can become quite fluffy. Maidenhair ferns have tiny, delicate leaves and look like something you’d want to pet. I am obsessed with cotton candy ferns, which are so fluffy and soft and grow to gigantic pillow size. Birds nest ferns reach out with leaves that resemble arms, with finger-like tips. Lastly, there are few ferns as majestic as the Staghorn fern, which you can mount on a wall, but can also live in a planter. Ferns love the indoors, and don’t need as much sunlight as other plants. They love moist but not wet soil. What’s wonderful about ferns is they tell you how they’re feeling. You can tell if they need more water if they become droopy. 

Philodendron

Credit: DimaBerlin/Shutterstock

If you like monsteras, philodendrons make sense for you. There are tons of varieties, and they do well in planters inside. Whether hanging or in a standing planter, philodendrons want to grow. They’ll send out giant, reaching leaves on delicate stems and if needed, send aerial roots out as well. You’ll want to ensure the planter has enough room for the root ball, and that might mean upgrading the size of pot year to year. Philodendrons require as much water as ferns, and benefit from occasional weak fertilizing. 

Aloe

Credit: Pixel-Shot/Shutterstock

I make an exception to my avoidance of succulents for aloe for obvious reasons: its usefulness. Aloe has long been used to soothe burns and rashes. Aloe plants require a decent amount of indirect sunlight, so if you’re not locating this plant by a window, it will need a plant light. Aloe doesn’t like wet feet, so you want to ensure you don’t overwater it, but if the leaves turn yellow, it is a sign that it is under-watered.  A succulent potting mix is appropriate.

Where to find houseplants

There will inevitably be tons of nurseries with houseplants near you, but also consider finding friends who have the plants you like. Most houseplants are easily propagated. Also, consider online sources. For the past few years, I've sourced most of my plants on sites like Etsy and the app Palmstreet.

The Best Black Friday Deals Right Now

Apple AirPods Pro 2 ANC Earbuds With USB-C Charging Case — $153.99 (List Price $249.00)

Samsung Galaxy Tab A9+ 64GB Wi-Fi 11" Tablet — $149.99 (List Price $219.99)

Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device With Remote (2023 Model) — $21.99 (List Price $49.99)

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