Plant Care & Gardening Tips@ HortChat.com©

Mini rose plant care

Filed under: — admin @ 2:13 am


Miniature rose plant can be grown indoors for a limited time. They need high light and humidity to bloom well. Additional artificial lights and a moist pebble tray will help improve their growing requirements during the winter. They should be kept moist at all times but do not allowed to stand in water; drain any excess water so that roots won’t drown and rot. A cool spot (60-72F) with bright indirect sunlight will encourage reblooming. If the plant is actively growing feed it with a flowering houseplant fertilizer to encourage new blooms. Remove any withered blooms and yellowing leaves.

mini rose

Maintain your mini rose till spring time (cooler climate areas) then plant it in the ground when all danger of frost has passed. Plant it in a sunny location with at least 1/2 day sun and in well-drained, rich, organic soil. Prune the plant 5 inches from the ground, removing any dead canes and water in thoroughly.

Tell a Friend or Foe about this 'Mini rose plant care article'
Bookmark this thread on Mini rose plant care
previous post: Florist Azalea care
next post: Supermarket Plants

34 Comments on Mini rose plant care»

  1. Hi- I have a potted rose plant that I’ve had for about 3 months now, and recently a sticky substance has started appearing on the leaves. I thought it might be mealy bugs, but I can’t find any white stuff, or anything on the stems, but just this sticky clear stuff on the leaves. The plant has been indoors the entire time. What should I do? Thanks!

    Check for aphids at the new growth and underneath the leaf and scale along the stems, they also leave sticky residue on the leaves.

    Jo
    My boyfriend gave me a Mini rose plant for Valentines Day and I keep outside for about 4 hours so it can get enough sun and I water it every other day. But the buds keep coming off and the ones that bloom fall off after a week.. Today I noticed little green bugs under the leaves and on the flower tips. Are they affecting my plant in anyway?

    Hi
    Those little green bugs are probably aphids which affect roses in spring and fall. They suck on plant juices, especially the new growth and flower buds. A good water spray will wash them off the plant, do it at least 3 times or if that doesn’t work use insecticidal soap every 3-5 days for two weeks. Water thoroughly, when the top inch is dry and make sure that the protective sleeve is removed so that the water can drain freely from the bottom. Trim away any dead flower buds and brown stems. Your mini rose would be very happy if you planted it outdoors.

    Comment by Lauren — 4/30/2006 @ 7:48 am

  2. I’ve checked for both. I can’t find any bugs or discolored spots, on the tops or bottoms of the leaves or on the stems. There’s just all this sticky stuff all over the leaves, particularly on the older growth. The new growth, thankfully, has yet to be touched.

    Scale show up as smooth bumps and come in different sizes depending on the life stage its in. The juvenile stage is difficult to spot with the naked eye. Use a magnifying glass to look for scale, it really helps

    .

    Comment by Lauren — 5/2/2006 @ 2:39 pm

  3. Help!!My miniature rose plant has a white dusty substance on the leaves….almost like a powdery texture. Do you think the plant has mealy bugs or is it some other kind of disease??What can I do to treat my rose plant??

    Sound like powdery-mildew see the article on powdery mildew. If you plant is indoors put it outside where it can get some air circulation.

    Karen ( kmp1@rochester.rr.com / )
    Hi.

    What a great site! I have a question. I have a miniature rose bush that is currently planted in a container. I know I need to transplant it, but I’m wondering if it’s too late. I live in Upstate New York. I am assuming it is too late. So, should I bring it inside for the winter? Leave it out? Also, it does have the white powdery substance as described in another post. I’m just stating that in case that helps in deciding a path forward. Please advise, thanks!

    It is too late to transplant, wait till spring. You can bring the plant indoors and treat it as a houseplant and deal with powdery mildew or store it in the garage/basement to keep the roots from freezing for the winter. It will go dormant, drop its leaves thereby eliminating the powdery mildew problem. Just make sure you clean up the leaves.

    Comment by Leah — 6/11/2006 @ 5:16 am

  4. My husband gave me a potted rose plant for Mother’s Day. It is trimmed to look like a tree. I have never had a rose bush of any kind… is this a regular bush that has been pruned down, or is it a tree type plant? Does it need to be planted outdoors? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank You!

    This is what is known as a Rose Tree or Standard Rose. To make a Standard rose buds are grafted on to a long straight stem of another rose (rugosa). Treat it like any other rose only that they do need winter protection in cold climates. They make great container plants and can also be planted outdoors as an accent plant.

    Comment by Kirsten — 6/16/2006 @ 8:22 am

  5. I’m back again! I’m so excited to be learning about gardening. I’m starting with just one bed, don’t want to overwhelm myself and give up! I have a Miniature Rose bush, Magic Carrousel. Any advice or tips? If the leaves are turning yellowish, does that mean I’ve overwatered? What about deadheading, do I just pinch off the dead blossoms anytime? Also, I know there’s something about using coffee grounds or tea bags for certain plants, what can you tell me about that? My Star Jasmine is growing well, but the leaves are getting yellowish. I thought I needed to water it a lot after repotting it, but I’ve backed off a little. Thank you so much for hosting this site!!

    Yellow leaves can indicate a number of symptoms. It can be over or under watered, lack of fertilizer or not enough light. For the mini roses I just pinch off the dying flowers. On your Star Jasmine- yellowish leaves indicate that you need to fertilize it lightly with a 10-10-10, or a bloom booster that might get it to bloom in the fall. Some use coffee grounds, diluted black tea, top dress with cotton seed meal or a fertilizer that contains ammonium sulfate to make the soil more acidic.

    Comment by Barbara Baugher — 9/11/2006 @ 7:36 pm

  6. My week-old potted mini rose has lost at least one-third of its leaves - they turned yellow and dropped off. However, no buds have dropped off, yet. I placed it on my office window sill that has a north-west exposure so it gets a fair amount of sunshine even though we are now into fall (I live in Vancouver, British Columbia). Is this due to the stress of relocation? Or would it better for me to take it home and plant it outside - will it survive our winter? Many thanks.

    Mini roses have a tendency to yellow and drop leaves when indoors due to stress, low light. They grow much better and prefer to be outdoors. Take it home and plant it. Once acclilmated it will reward you with a healthy life. Mini roses are hardy and will survive even the colder winters than ones in British Columbia.

    Comment by Rebecca Ng — 9/25/2006 @ 1:11 am

  7. I planted my mini rosebush outside and it is doing well .I would like to know what to do for it to get ready for a Nova Scotia winter.

    Emma

    Treat your mini rosebush just like any other rose. Hopefully it is in a protected area. Some varieties are not as hardy. To winterize, wait until it is completely dormant and the ground is frozen 2-3 inches and then mound loose soil over the plant and mulch with 3-5 inches of straw, evergreen branches etc. or put a rose collar around it and fill that with mulch. This will help the roots from heaving from the ground when it freezes and thaws. For more insulation, add another layer of mulch such as leaves, straw to protect the base of the canes. Chances are the canes will die back to the mulch. Prune, winter damaged canes next spring after new growth begins.

    Charles Baker
    How is the best way to keep your rose for cold weather outside in the ground

    For the cold winter wait until the plant is dormant and the ground is frozen. In warmer zones (6 and 7) Mulch your rose with 12 inches of straw, woods chips, evergreen branches after the ground freezes. In cooler zones 5 and under put a rose collar around it and fill with sandy soil or compost and then add straw & leaves. There is a new rose collar available in garden centers, that is plastic and allows air to circulate. Be sure mulching is done after the ground freezes. This avoids heat build up on a sunny winter day and prevents freezing and thawing. Remove the collar around April.

    Comment by Emma Bigelow — 9/29/2006 @ 11:57 pm

  8. I was wondering if anyone knows a good remedy for “thrips"? It’s on my antique farm roses.(What a great site!)

    If its flower thrips-my Ortho book recommends immediately remove & destroy infested buds and blooms. Spray at 7-10 day intervals with an insecticide containing acephate (Orthene). Do this 3 times. Most damage occurs early summer. Thrips are hard to control because they continue to migrate to roses from other plants such as grasses and weeds.

    Comment by Kris — 10/4/2006 @ 5:21 am

  9. I put my mini rose potted plant in the garage for the winter. It is going dormant. How often do I water it over the winter time?

    Water once a month with very little water, just to keep the soil from completely drying out. Make sure the pot doesn’t freeze.

    Comment by Darlene — 12/22/2006 @ 5:41 pm

  10. Hello, I live in E. Washington and am having trouble figuring out what type of roses to plant. Can you help?
    Thanks, Glenda

    You probably live in zone 5-6 in Eastern Washington. Roses will grow in just about any part of the country. There are many varieties depending on your personal choice. Some cool weather roses are: Hybrid Rugosas are recommended for beginners, Griffith Buck, Modern Roses, Centrifolias, Species Roses, Gallica, Alba and schrub roses. Hybrid teas are not recommended for the novice gardener. A good web site to visit is northlandrosarium.com and rosegardening.org. They specialize in roses and have lots of information on their planting and care.

    Comment by Glenda — 1/21/2007 @ 8:54 am

  11. It is winter in Southern NJ. How long will my mini rose bush last until I can plant it outside? Will it do better in my office or at home? I don’t want it to die. Please advise on how I can keep it alive until spring. Thanks!!!!

    Keep your plant in a cool, bright, indirect light with good air circulation. Maintain even moisture (don’t let it get too dry between watering). Based on the above information you will have to determine which environment is better the office or at home. If the plant looses all its leaves store the pot in a cold (above freezing) space like a garage and then plant outdoors when the soil is workable and weather warms up.

    Comment by Michele — 1/29/2007 @ 10:49 am

  12. Mini rose plant care
    I have a reoccurring with miniature roses. Anytime from within a few days to a few weeks after I buy one, I notice that a brown spot appears a stem about 2 inches below a blossom; the spot goes all around the stem. After the spot appears, it increases in size and moves up the stem towards the blossom. Eventually the blossom also turns brown, shrivels up, and dies. What is the problem, and how do I prevent and/or stop it? Thanks!

    It sound like some type of a fungal disease possibly Botrytis, which is encouraged by low light and moist conditions. This can develop in the greenhouse, during shipping, extended storage or bad watering technique at store level. By the time you get the plant, it can be slightly stressed and suceptible to any lurking pathogens . Trim away any brown flowers and stems. Provide bright light, good air circulation and make sure the water drains freely from the bottom of the pot. You can also give it a preventative treatment with a fungicide such as funginex or phaltan.

    Comment by David — 2/16/2007 @ 7:25 am

  13. My granddaughter received a miniature rose bush for Valentines. The leaf stems and leaves are drying and falling off. What do I need to do to stop this? Also, we live in the southeast and I’m wondering about planting in full sun or shade this spring? And what type fertilizer should I use on it throughout the year?

    Miniature potted rose bushes are difficult to keep in the winter. The cool, warm, dry conditions, indoors are tough on the plant. Keep your plant in a bright sunny window (south) and slightly moist. Water when the top inch feels dry or the pot feels light. Remove the decorative covering (if you have one) when watering and don’t allow the roots to sit in water. Root rot from overwatering is one of the biggest problems with indoor mini roses. To see if your plant has root rot, remove the plant from the pot and check the roots-if they are brown and mushy , then you may have root rot. To salvage the plant cut away some of the brown roots and repot in fresh potting soil and hope it recovers. Even if the top looks bad you want to keep the roots alive so you can plant it outdoors where it should rebound. Plant it outdoors in full sun to part shade and provide some sun protection for the first week so the plant can get acclimated. Feed your plant when actively growing with a water-soluble rose food (9-18-18) or a slow release fertilizer.

    Comment by Sonja — 2/21/2007 @ 6:53 pm

  14. 2006-7-10
    christi
    I HEARD THAT YOU CAN GET THE BEARDED IRIS TO BLOOM TWICE A YEAR.HOW SO? ALSO, I WANT TO START A ROSE GARDEN,BUT I WANT TO TAKE CUTTING FROM SOME VERY OLD ROSE BUSHES. HOW AND WHERE DO I TAKE THE CUTTINGS AND HOW DO I GET THEM TO ROOT OUT? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND COMMENTS

    There are certain cultivars of iris that will bloom twice a year - once in June and then in late summer/fall. You can order reblooming iris online. To propagate your rose-take a 3-4 inch cutting from this year’s growth in the spring to late summer, dip it into rooting powder and insert into a mix of peat and sand. Keep the cutting moist, humid and out of the sun. It should root in 10-14 days. When rooted plant it in the garden and be sure to protect it in the winter. Good luck. Let us know how you did!

    Comment by Christi — 2/28/2007 @ 2:02 pm

  15. I have mini roses planted outside and used a weed free cloth and rocks to keep down weeds. The leaves keep getting black spots and then almost all leaves fall off, but I have some pretty blooms. I have sprayed with a fungicide and fertilized. Any suggestions will be appreciated.

    Black spot is a common fungal disease on roses. It starts with a black spot, then it is surrounded with yellow-eventually the leaf turns yellowish pink and falls off. To control this disease you need to remove all infected leaves and spray with a fungicide every 7-10 day intervals and more often during rainy weather. Avoid getting water on the leaves. When you water, do so early in the day so the leaves have time to dry off. To minimize the disease for next year, start with sanitation in the fall. Rake and burn all the diseased leaves and prune any infected canes to healthy wood this will eliminate the spores from wintering over.

    Comment by Benna — 4/27/2007 @ 10:32 am

  16. I have a Mini rose plant potted inside that is not doing so well. I know it is best to plant it outside. Unfortunately, I don’t have a place to plant it outside. The bottom leaves are drying out and falling and the buds are not blooming. I was thinking that maybe I could keep it outdoors in a larger pot with better drainage. It is May here in California. When is it a good time to repot my mini roses? and is it a good idea to plant them in a larger pot?
    Thank you

    Spring is a good time to repot your mini rose into a 1-2″ larger pot. After it’s transplanted place it in the shaded area for a few days and then set it outdoors in the sun. It thrives on fresh air and sunshine and should send out new growth in no time.

    Comment by Ximell — 5/16/2007 @ 1:07 pm

  17. Hi, Gr8 site :-) Hope you can help me. I was out shopping and i found this really good small rose plant in a small pot. Its called Red Sunblaze Rose plant. Its a miniature rose shrub plant. It had many rose flowers and rose buds. After i brought it home, the flowers and the rose buds all fell down on the slightest touch. Now there are no rose buds or bloomed buds on the plant. I have started keeping the pot outside in a sunny area and water it once in 3 days. Also, i now have started noticing that the new buds on branches, not the rose buds, are turning red. Is it normal, or is my plant diseased? I do not want want my plant to die. Please guide me to care for this plant so that it blooms everytime and stays healthy.

    Your mini rose is responding to the great outdoors and is growing. The new growth on the branches tend to have a reddish color and will turn green. It is a normal development, not a disease. It should develop new rose buds within a few weeks. Slowly acclimate it to a sunny spot. It should eventually get 1/2 day of direct sun, the more sun the more flowers. Water when slightly dry-don’t let it dry out and don’t over water. Fertilize with a rose food or balanced fertilizer (follow directions) during active growth for best flower production. Stop fertilizing 6 wks before the first frost.

    Comment by Irfan — 5/22/2007 @ 4:43 pm

  18. I bought a mini rose plant for my daughter and it is now all dried out yet it is still green. the flowers and bud are dried out as well and wilted, last week i repoted it with miracle grow 3 in 1. I live in Belen, New Mexico is any thing I can do. She keeps asking if it is dying? Help

    Give your mini rose some time to recuperate and place it outdoors away from direct sun until it shows signs of new growth. They thrive in sun and even moisture, let it dry slightly between watering. Roses stop blooming when it gets too hot (90’s)outdoors. To protect it from the heat place it a semi-shade. It should perk up in no time.

    Comment by rene — 5/30/2007 @ 3:26 pm

  19. I got mini white roses for my birthday on 7/18 but the container is much too small and plant is very crowded. It came with another container from the forist and I was wondering as long as I dont disturb and roots, take it out in one piece and just drop it into the other container and fill with more soil, is this okay? I am keeping it indoors for now, I live in CT.

    Yes, it would benefit from repotting. When you are repotting, check the roots to see if they are matted together, if so then loosen them slightly (tickle the roots) without breaking up the rootball to encourage new growth. Use a container 1-2 inches larger than the current one.

    Comment by silvia iannicelli — 7/21/2007 @ 10:10 am

  20. We live in Birmingham, Alabama. I bought a mini-rose about 3 months ago. It is putting out new leaves but has never had a bud. It is in a clay pot outdoors. We keep it watered and have been using Pennington Rose food 8-12-4.

    It sounds like it has the right fertilizer to promote blooming but your rose plant may need more sun at least half day. More sun more flowers. Also, if the weather has been hot, like many plants, they stop blooming until it gets cooler.

    Comment by Dave — 8/5/2007 @ 10:29 am

  21. Hello,
    I live in southern Ontario and have purchased a minirose 3 or 4 months ago in the late spring, and it has been doing quite well indoors.
    Recently, there seemed to be more tip-curling and drying (and falling) of older leaves than usual. About 1/2-3/4 of the lower leaves are now gone � even some of the good-looking leaves fall at the touch. However, there are still blooms on the plant, but no new growth.
    I cannot plant my rose outside (living on university residence), and the lady working at the gardening centre where I got the rose assured me that it is a variety which does not go outside for the winter.
    Is it a normal autumn (it is now late August) reaction for leaves to turn yellow and fall, or is something troubling my plant?
    Thank you so very much for your help =)

    It is difficult to keep mini roses indoors for a prolonged time. According to Noreast-miniroses- Mini rose will go dormant(resting stage) in the fall-they will shed older leaves and stop producing flowers for a few months. It’s a good time to trim and shape the plant. When ready, they will send out new growth. They will need lots of light even supplemental fluorescent lights and humidity to bloom indoors in the winter. Careful not to overwater the plant.

    Comment by Emma — 8/29/2007 @ 6:48 am

  22. I’ve got a micro and a mini roses, they are in containers. I live in Chicago, and is cold now. I would like to know what should I do with them? I’m still keeping then on my balcony. Some leaves are drying and curling up and some are turning yellow. They don’t have any buds. Can I keep them outside all the winter? what kind I do to protect them of the cold weather.

    If you can, plant them in the ground and protect them like regular roses.(mulch after a freeze). They will not survive the winter on your balcony, the roots will freeze. Otherwise you will have to bring it indoors and keep it in a bright, cool window until spring.

    2007-11-6
    Deisy
    But, do you think is time now to bring them indoor or I’ve got to wait to end of fall. What can I do with the leaves, they are yellowing and look weak. Some of them fall off to the touch. Should I trim them off, and leave the stems naked?. Can I use a fertilizer in winter or not?

    You want to bring them inside now just in case there is a deep freeze which would kill the roots, in addition it will need time to get acclimated to the darker, dryer conditions indoors. I usually don’t recommend repotting this time of year but in your case it may help to repot your rose in a slightly larger or the same size pot adding some fresh soil. Trim the stems up to 1/2 and remove any brown stems. Water when top inch is dry. Place the plant in a bright, cool window. It should send out new growth in a few weeks. Do not fertilize in the winter.

    Comment by Deisy — 11/5/2007 @ 7:26 pm

  23. I have successfully re-potted my mini rose and it seems to love its new, larger container. I keep it in the sunniest window in the apartment (planting outside is not an option), water it when the soil is dry, trim dried leaves (though there is not much necessity for this, as most of the leaves are lush and green) and give it miracle gro spikes according to the package instructions. All of this seems to be paying off and the rose is growing like crazy! It has put out new growth so quickly I may need to buy another pot and re-pot it again soon! The only problem is, it seems so devoted to growing new stalks and leaves that it is producing far fewer buds than it had when I bought it. It has gone from about 10 buds and flowers at a time, to two. The buds it produces look healthy, but how can I encourage it to make more flowers? Could it be the temperature? I keep the thermostat between 68 and 70, but it is slightly cooler by the window where the rose resides (hard to do anything about that in the winter in Chicago…)

    Look at the formula on the fertilizer spikes-they may be formulated for green plant growth eg. 10-10-10. To much nitrogen will produce more green growth at the expense of flowers. You should fertilize less if not at all in the winter. You want a spike for blooming plants eg. 5-10-10. The other problem may be the amount of light the plant is getting. There is less light and sunshine in the winter and plants will not produce as many flowers. You can try to put it under a grow light to increase blooming.

    Comment by Beth — 11/26/2007 @ 10:53 am

  24. It is almost 1 month after I brought my miniature roses in. They have lost all the leaves and some of the stems are turning brown. I keep them in a bright, cool window in my apartment. Also, I Trimmed the stems up to 1/2 as you recommended me, and I was watering them when top inch is dry. What is wrong with them? I’m afraid they die. Help me please. Thanks a lot.

    Hi Deisy
    With low light and dry air, mini roses are very difficult to keep indoors during the winter. When you water do you let the water drain out of the bottom? One of the biggest problems people encounter with plants is caused by improper watering. If the roots are allowed to sit in water too long they can develop a root rot which will kill the plant. One last stitch effort is to repot the plant. Take the rose out of the pot check to see if there are any cream colored roots. Those are the healthy ones. Wash off the soil off the roots and plant in fresh new soil. Trim away any brown stems. This is not the best time of year to do this and I’m not sure it is worth all the effort.

    Comment by Deisy — 11/29/2007 @ 9:58 am

  25. Please Help Me…. I’ve had my miniature rose plant for 1 1/2 years. I do not have the option to plant it outdoors. I live in a new york apartment. It’s survived a whole winter and 2 summers just fine so I know that being and indoor plant is not the problem. In the summer it grows lots of beautiful pink buds. I keep it in the sunniest window in the house and I do not over water it. But the problem is that the plant has alot of gaps at the bottom. The bottom of the stems right above the soil no longer grow leaves and are starting to get brown. Some of the leaves on top get yellow and fall off. Now the plant is starting to get brownish and wilting leaves. Being that it’s now winter it only has 2 rose buds like last winter but they look very healthy. I saw a few bugs in the soil. What do I do? Being that it’s winter is it to late to check for root rot and change the soil? Can I rinse out the roots completely and repot in fresh soil? I bought some of that mite spray but I’m scared to do something wrong. Please help me. This was a baby shower present and it’s very very important to me. :-(

    Wow! One and a half years indoors. That’s pretty good…Try the mite spray or insecticidal soap. You may have to make several applications. Take precautions when you use it indoors. Increased humidity should also help. Also see spider mite article. It may help identify the problem

    .

    Comment by Mari — 12/1/2007 @ 2:45 pm

  26. Great site! I recently became intersted in roses and decided to try to grow them, but I must be doing something wrong. Many of my stems on my larger outdoor plants and even my mini potted indoor ones are yellowing from the tips downwards. This yellowing takes a couple of weeks to proceed down the cane. I keep pruning them back to try to stop the process, but it continues. What causes this and how do I fix it? My poor roses are getting misshapen from all the pruning. Thanks for any help!

    Are the roses outside or indoors?

    2007-12-18
    Rebecca again ( babyrae1970@yahoo.com / ) (IP: 71.123.233.239 )
    Just to clarify, the stems seem to begin to start yellowing after pruning. My directions say to prune the mini plant by 1/3 after each flowering , but when I do this the canes begin to yellow for the top downwards……HELP!!

    Hi Rebecca
    You may want to consider the type of pruners you are using. The anvil type can crush the stem leaving it open to disease whereas scissor type (2 sharp blades) will give them a clean cut and allow the cut to heal. Be sure the pruner is sharp. Another factor is that you may be spreading disease with a dirty tool. Be sure to clean your pruner with alcohol or bleach to eliminate any pathogens. At this point wipe the pruner after each cut so as not to spread disease.

    Comment by Rebecca — 12/15/2007 @ 5:05 pm

  27. Hey There!
    I purchased 5 Mini Rose Bushes last night at a local grocery store for .99 cents each. I am proud of this, however it leads me to believe I only have a few weeks to care for them before they become “unhappy". They all look great now. Meanwhile, I plan to plant them outside in the Spring. What is a good month? (I’m in Upstate S.C.) Also, should I leave them in the pots and transition them around the yard to the area where I have decided to plant them or just go for it and plant them? (This is the part I usually mess up and they always seem to die.) I hope I didn’t sound too confusing. Thanks for the advice!
    Deb

    Hi Deb

    It is a good idea to get them acclimated to the outdoors since they were in “low” light conditions for some time. Plant them in the ground when the danger of frost is over in your area-most likely now. They don’t mind the cooler temps as long as it doesn’t get below 40. If they drop their leaves cut them back and give them a new start. Once you see new growth give them a balanced fertilizer to stimulate more growth and blooming.

    Comment by Debbie — 2/7/2008 @ 6:43 am

  28. Hi,
    I received two (i believe mini) rose plants for valentines day. I live in Colorado, and thus cannot plant these outside yet (though I do have a sunny spot for them in the yard). I would like to know when I should transition the plants outside, and how I can keep them alive inside until then. I currently have the plants in a sunny room (up high, away from kitty), and am keeping the soil moist with a spray bottle of water. They seem to be doing okay so far, but I have noticed the “leaf drop” described by others. I assumed this was because the plants went from a Home Improvement store to our house and was stressed. Will the leaf drop eventually stop, and how can I prevent this from getting worse? Thanks!!!

    Hi Rachel
    Keep your plant soil slightly moist not wet and give them as much sun and as you can. The leaf drop may continue but the important thing is to keep the roots alive until they can go outdoors. Give the plant a good watering, let the excess drain out and then wait a few days (when the pot feels light) and re-water.

    Comment by Rachel — 2/20/2008 @ 10:49 am

  29. Hi,
    My mother in law got a mini rose bush for valentines day, but now all the blooms have wilted. I am taking care of it for her because she is short on time and not good with plants. I have never taken care of one before and I don’t know whether to prune the dead buds or even how. The plant is getting watered every day or two and is in a place inside that it can get a little sun every day. When would be a good time to plant it outside? I think the cat that is at her house has been snacking a little on the leaves because some look torn and some what brown around those spots. The leaves look great, but I can’t seem to get the buds their color back. Please explain to me what I should do. I would greatly appreciate it. thank you.

    Hi
    Cut of the dead buds on your mini rose and let the plant dry out slightly before watering. You want to keep it moist but not in standing water. Everyday watering may be too much. If the pot feels light then give it a good watering so that the water runs through the drain holes, then wait a few days to water again. Give the plant as much sun as you can, that will help develop more flower buds and if they are sending out new leaves, fertilize with a flowering houseplant food. Plant it outdoors in at least 1/2 day sun when all danger of frost has passed and the soil can be worked. If the plant is straggly at that time cut it back by half to stimulate new growth.

    Comment by Ashley — 3/9/2008 @ 4:53 am

  30. I received a mini rose plant from a person in AL. I am in Hot Hot Texas. Can this plant take the 100 degree heat that we have and can it also take the full sun? Thank you.

    They may tolerate some 100 degree days as long as you give them plenty of water so they don’t dry out. Add 3-4 inches of mulch to conserve moisture and plant in semi-shaded area free from the hot afternoon sun. It won’t tolerate both 100 degrees and full sun. Roses will stop blooming at high temperatures and wait for cooler weather.

    Comment by Ginny — 3/31/2008 @ 2:49 pm

  31. I just bought 2 rose bushes in a bag at a wholesale club. I live in South Jersey & the weather here has been strange this year. It is still bouncing between 40 degree days & 70 degree days, but some nights it’s still getting down into the 20’s. I haven’t planted them yet so my husband told me to bring them in the house so they don’t get shocked by the cold & die. Should I be watering them in the house even though they are still in their bags? The plants are packaged by Jackson & Perkins and I got one Sexy Rexy plant & one John F. Kennedy plant. I have never had rose bushes before, so i have no idea how to care for them. This will be a learning experience for me. I plan to plant them this coming weekend, but because the soil here is so sandy, I was going to plant them in HUGE pots so that they are in real soil & see how they do. Is this a mistake? A lot of people are telling me that rose bush roots need to roam & they will not survive even 1 season in a pot. Thank you for any help you can provide!

    Hi Jessica
    According to Jackson Perkins, you can plant your hybrid t rose in a container. The container needs to be large enough to provide 18-24″ space around the plant. Make sure you plant in well-drained soil and provide 4-6 hrs of direct sun. In Northern climates it will need winter proctection.

    Comment by Jessica — 4/2/2008 @ 1:45 pm

  32. Hi there,
    When I first got my mini rose, it dropped all its leaves and was down to the bare twigs. So I repotted it and moved it to a Western window (E,W and N is all I have) with direct light and placed it on a pebbled tray. It grew all the leaves back but now I have a handful of yellow leaves again. New growth also dies right after sprouting. What am I doing wrong? Thanks!

    Hi Kim
    It may be getting too much water and you may have some root damage. A pebble tray is not necessary this time of year . Lift the pot to see if it needs water. If it feels light then water it. Placing it outdoors in a semi-shaded area would help it recover.

    Comment by Kim — 4/21/2008 @ 4:19 pm

  33. Hi there! I bought a mini-rose plant about 2 weeks ago. It is potted and the pot does not drain. Some small leaves near the base have turned yellow and the blossoms are withering rapidly. I am going to start putting it outside during the day. I didn’t think I was overwatering it but I wonder if that is the problem. I didn’t want to wait too long to seek answers!
    I was also hoping to take it to college with me, but if it’s necessary, I am able to plant it at home. How long might it remain healthy indoors if I repotted it in a larger, drained pot?

    Hi Cherize
    It sounds like its been overwatered and the roots are suffering. If you can’t plant it outdoors now, repot in a pot with drainage. Look at the roots at that time and see if there are any cream colored roots (those are the healthy ones). Water the plant and place it in a shady area to recuperate for a week and then move it into the sun. Don’t water again until the top 1-2 inches is dry or the pot feels light.
    It’s hard to tell how long it would remain healthy indoors in a pot. There are so many factors that affect its growth, not only good soil and drainage but bright light, good air circulation and humidity. I would plant it outdoors and enjoy it through the summer. You’ll enjoy it much longer than keeping it indoors.

    Comment by Cherize — 4/24/2008 @ 5:41 pm

  34. Hi,
    My mini rose plants all three of them though they were bought at different times are growing well [good sprightly leaves] but almost no buds or even if they do, they dry up before bloom. Why is this happening?
    Thanks,
    AG

    Comment by AG — 5/15/2008 @ 1:42 pm

Leave a comment

Please search before posting, we might already have what you are looking for on the site.
 
HortChat.com© Web

(required)


(required, but not displayed)

authimage


Please note: Comment moderation is currently enabled so there may be a delay between when you post your comment and when it shows up. Patience is a virtue; there’s no need to resubmit your comment.