Comments on: Mini rose plant care

By: Dey

Dey — Sat, 27 Feb 2010 17:27:21 +0000

oh… i see. ok well then is there any way that i can keep the plant alive? all the buds are actually drying now, and i dont know what to do so, should i just cut the stem at least 3″ high? and hope for new growth?

Hi Dey
I’m, referring to stem buds-that’s where new growth will sprout from. Not flower buds. Yes, if the top of the plant is bare – no leaves and brown stems cut it back to 3-6 inch high and let it start growing again. Be sure to remove any dead, diseased and damaged stems as well as any thin, twiggy growth. You want to keep healthy green stems. When pruning, use sharp clippers to get a clean cut. Put it in a sunny spot on a window sill. Make sure you keep the soil slightly moist not wet. If the roots are still healthy, they sould produce new growth from the stem buds.

By: Dey

Dey — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 00:24:36 +0000

Hi, great site…
buti have a problem ok so my mini-rose plant was given to me about 3weeks ago and when i got it. it looked good, so when i keept it inside my room next to the window, i noticed that the leaves buds and some of the leaves stareted to dry up and the rose petals on some of the roses are turning kindda yellowish, and they look like they are drying up as well and i just cut two buds off becase i read about the brown spots and how it was a fungus, so i thought thats what it was but then i looked at my plant and in the stem right under the dirt there are some stems that have brown spots on them as well. so if i cut it all off from under the soil will it still grow? please help me!!!

Hi Dey
You need some growing buds on the stems to get new growth, that’s why recommended pruning is 3-6″. If you cut the stems down to the soil too deeply, then it may not sprout new growth from the roots. Wait and see.

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 19:32:15 +0000

Yellowing leaves
Hello,
I bought a mini rose plant from Wal-Mart yesterday and some of the leaves are yellow. What can I do to fix that issue.
Plus with the Arizona heat, how do I make it a happy work office plant? My office has direct sun. Should I get a bigger pot?

Hi Cynthia
Yellowing leaves on mini roses are usually a sign of stress such as overwatering, lack of nutrients, low light and insects. Mini roses require 6-8 hrs of bright sun, Eventhough you may think it is getting a lot of light, indoor light cannot compare to outdoor light. Place it in the brightest window of your office.
When watering, make sure that the soil gets a chance to dry before watering again and don’t let the plant sit in water. Also check for insects such as spider mites. The like dry indoor air.
Unless the plant is pot bound, I don’t think a larger pot is necessary. Indoor environment is not condusive to healthy mini rose plant growth. It will be an uphill battle.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 13:05:06 +0000

My boyfriend got me a little rose bush, it was really nice, I thought it was a in door plant so popped it on my window ledge in my flat and with in a week its dead, all the flowers and leaves have come off and it has some white dust on the top of the dirt?, when I saw it was dying I watered it, maybe too much? and it just got worse? i’ve moved it around making sure it had sunlight and was not to hot? I don’t know if I should plant it out side as its really cold and frozy at the moment?

Hi Michelle
Mini rose plants are sometimes considered a disposable decorative gift plant. They are difficult to keep indoors in winter. The dry air and low light conditions can push them right over the edge. They need even moisture and if allowed to dry out or get overwatered will drop their leaves from stressful conditions. I’m not sure how bad the plant is and if it is saveable. You can try to repot it in fresh soil. Make sure the soil drains well and that there are holes in the bottom of the pot. If it survives, then you can plant it outdoors in spring.
P.s. The plant should have lasted more than one week, the problem may have started before you received it.

By: Bonnie

Bonnie — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 23:16:38 +0000

Can someone help me? I am a rookie produce manager and I am now getting in miniture roses for valentines day. I do not have a green thumb at all and I don’t want to do anything to damage the plants. I have read that the low lighting and the packing of the flowers can damage them. I set them on display and watered with small amout of fertilize and 3 days later some of the flowers are completly dry and falling off. Do I need to add additional lighting or is this due to something I have done? I did pull off the dried buds and need to know where to go from here!!!

Hi Bonnie
I worked in the floral dept. of a grocery store for many years and it doesn’t sound like you did anything wrong. Do not fertilize the plants at this time, they don’t need it. Mini roses can be damaged en route to the store. They could be in the box too long and need to be unpacked right away. In addition, they can also be exposed to cold temperatures en route-that would usually show up as leaf and petal drop.
At this point make sure your mini roses are displayed in an area away from heat and cold drafts. Make sure the plants are getting enough water but not sitting in water. Good luck

By: dustin

dustin — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 01:49:53 +0000

Yellow leaves
why is my mini rose bush turning yellow and showing new growth?

Hi Dustin
Mini roses need very high light, humidity and even moisture to grow well. They are difficult to grow indoors and have a tendency to yellow and drop leaves due to stress, low light. Make sure that the soil and roots are not to too wet and conversely don’t let the soil dry out. In winter they need bright light and cool temperatures.

By: JulieJules

JulieJules — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:03:44 +0000

Hello! I’ve had my mini roses since July. I’ve noticed little holes in the leaves, I didn’t mind them at first cause I didn’t see any bugs on the leaves and figured they had already gotten their snack and left. While I was watering them this morning I noticed A LOT of little green caterpillars eating the leaves of my mini roses. I was thinking of cutting off the leaves that have the caterpillars on them but I feel that would be mean to my rose (sounds silly I know). Is there a way to get them off without damaging the roses?

Hi Julie
You can handpick or wash off the caterpillars. I’m not sure what kind of caterpillars they are but spray of BT may work. If you don’t have that available, try soapy water and see if that helps.

By: Heidi Eash

Heidi Eash — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:24:56 +0000

I have nine mini roses leftover from my wedding in the beginning of Sept. I have repotted them to bigger pots than what they were in and water regularly. All my house windows are shaded so bringing them indoors for the winter doesn’t seem to be an option. I have them sitting on the porch where they can get sun. Will they be okay there for the winter (I live in Plain City, OH) or shall I put them in my garage?

Hi Heidi
You can keep your mini roses on the porch for a little while longer but once the deep cold sets in, they will have to be protected. You can move them into a garage and keep them dormant. Your other option is to plant them outdoors before it really gets too cold. Make sure you water them in well. When the ground freezes add 2-3 inches of mulch around the plant to keep the roots from freezing. The stem may die back in winter but if the roots survive, they will send out new growth in spring.

By: Stacey

Stacey — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:06:51 +0000

Last November I received a potted mini rose plant due to surgery. It was in full bloom with lots of leaves. During the year I kept it inside and watered everytime the soil was dry(which seemed like it was all the time). The buds died and some leaves turned yellow and fell off. Back in mid August my step mother informed me that mini roses love it out side. I put the plant outside on my back deck. One half of the plant it just brown sticks and the other half looks like it loves it out side. It has not bloomed again. I live in CT and it is now October. Nights are getting cold. Is the one half of the plant dead? Should I repot it? Should I take it inside for the winter? I am afaid to kill it. I have lots of room to plant outside, but I didn’t know I could have planted it outside. Should I do that now? Help! Thanks.

Hi Stacey
Plant is outside asap and see above comment.

By: Jenn1971

Jenn1971 — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 23:54:53 +0000

Winterover mini rose
Please help!
I have one of these mini roses, in a pot indoors. It was purchased for me from a grocery store recently. I have kept it out on my sunporch, where it got afternoon sun and did well. As the weather turned cool recently, I am curious – how do I keep this lovely little plant alive over the winter? Here are my details:
I live in Zone 2. Yes, 2. I cannot plant this little flower outside.
My house faces east. I have no windows on the south side of my home. The only reliable light is the afternoon, in my sun porch. In other words, my house does not get any natural light to keep house plants. I CAN’T keep houseplants alive. I gave up trying years ago.
Also (bad, I know) I never took it out of the original 4″ store pot. When it was given to me I honestly didn’t think it would live this long.
It gets cold here in the winter, often -40. So, it gets almost that cold in my sunporch.
Can I simulate a milder winter for this plant somehow? Maybe in it’s pot in my basement or something?
Any suggestions would be so helpful!

Hi Jen
Once the plant looses its leaves, stop watering and store the rose in its pot in the basement especially if you have a cold area or garage. Keep it barely moist at above freezing temperatures. In spring when it starts to warm up, bring the plant to light and when new growth starts repot it in fresh soil or plant outside for the summer. I haven’t tried this, but it think its worth a try. Let us know.
You can also try burying the pot outdoors close to the house in a protected area and after the ground freezes put 3-6 inches of mulch on top or protect it with a rose cone and see if that works. See comment to Emma from Sept 29, 2006 on winterize Mini rose