Don't let the delicate appearance fool you. These little gems are hardy
enough to grow outdoors in zones 6-10 without winter protection, and
with a good cover of mulch they will survive winters as far north as
zone 4. Miniature roses are surprisingly easy to grow, and they look
great as edgings for your beds or borders, accent plants for rock
gardens, and as houseplants.
Miniature roses range in size from the micro-minis which grow to about
five inches, up to a height four feet or more. The flowers are from 1/2
inch to two inches in diameter, and the range of colors is similar to
that of full-sized roses. Most types will bloom from spring until frost.
Unfortunately, miniature roses have little or no fragrance.
When grown indoors as pot plants, miniature roses need a little special
care. Even when grown in the sunniest window, they will usually need
supplemental light. You will know your rose isn't getting enough light
when the stems seem to stretch out leaving wide spaces between the
leaves.
Miniature roses also need lots of humidity if kept indoors. Set your pot
in a tray of pebbles and water. The pebbles will support the pot above
the water level so the soil doesn't become waterlogged. As it
evaporates, the water will provide the plant with extra humidity. If you
house is very dry, run a cool-mist vaporizer now and then.
Spider mites and whiteflies are drawn to indoor miniature roses. To
reduce the chances of these pests attacking your plants, give them a
weekly shower. Take care to thoroughly rinse both the tops and the
undersides of the leaves. To treat whiteflies, use an insecticidal soap
at five day intervals or spray with a solution of four parts water to
three parts rubbing alcohol -- add a squirt of dish soap for good
measure -- and keep the plant out of the light until the alcohol dries
completely.
Soap spray and alcohol spray also work for spider mites, and you might
also try buttermilk spray: mix 1/2 cup buttermilk with 4 cups wheat
flour to 5 gallons of water. Quarantine infested plants until you are
sure that the insects are irradiated. In extreme cases, you can strip
the leaves off the plant and cut it back by half. Don't worry, you won't
kill it, and you'll soon see signs of new growth.
For the best blooms, use a fertilizer that is high in potassium. The
last number in the N-P-K ratio indicates the amount of potassium, and an
N-P-K ratio of 5-5-10 is a good choice. Mix the fertilizer to about 1/4
strength and use it once a week.
After your roses spend a season indoors, it's best to plant them
outdoors and get new, disease and pest-free plants to use indoors. They
can be planted directly in the garden or kept in containers, but
remember that outdoor plants in small containers can dry out quickly.
Harden them off before placing them outdoors permanently.
About the author:
Jackie Carroll an avid gardener and the editor of GardenGuides.com, and
e-zine for gardeners. You can subscribe to her newsletters here:
http://www.gardenguides.com/news.htm
Perennial & Landscaping Resources
Breck's: Bulbs & Plants
Spring Hill Nursery
Michigan Bulb
Henry Field's
Gurney's Seed & Nursery
Jackson & Perkins
White
Flower Farm
Nature Hills Nursery
