Pruning Mini roses

8 Comments

1. Karin - February 20, 2009 at 9:33 am

   Hi, This is my first post and this does not related directly, but I live in coastal NC and have a a potted miniature rose bush that is doing wonderfully! I’ve had it for about 3 months now and plan to plant it outside in the spring. I have been pruning it only as needed since growth has slowed. My mother has a miniature rose bush that I gave her for mothers day a few years ago that has just taken off! She has it outside and prunes every so often as needed.

   Welcome and Thanks for the comment!

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2. Rebecca - March 5, 2009 at 7:08 am

   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!

   Rebecca again
   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.

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3. Cindy - March 5, 2009 at 7:12 am

   Cindy
   May 24th, 2008 at 8:51 am · Reply Edit
   HELP!!!Someone cut my mini rose bush off with a weed eater. Will it grow back?

   OOOpps! If there’s enough of a stem, it should leaf out again. It may also send out growth from below the soil surface.

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4. Stefanie - June 10, 2009 at 4:29 pm

   I have a miniature rose bush that we planted outside (I live in Northern Colorado). It did great last yr. This yr, it has not bloomed at all and the stalk/trunk seems to be DEAD. However, there are 3 growths coming from below the soil surface next to the staked “trunk”… any advice on what to do?
   Also, I just bought another one, and I wondered if you would advice potting it so I ca.n bring it indoors in the winter? If I do that, how do I best care for it indoors in the winter months?

   Since the top of the mini rose died, it is growing from the roots. Let it continue to grow and feed it. It should produce new stems and bloom. Mini rose can have a tendency to die back in winter if not mulched or protected. It would be difficult to keep it indoors for the winter as they need bright light and humidity. For more info on winter care suggestions see comments

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5. Deirdre - October 8, 2009 at 7:45 am

   Pruning mini rose
   I have a mini rose hybrid plant that just recently died a couple weeks ago. It bloomed 3 beautiful buds, but they are dead now, and an insect (i’m thinking mites) have eaten holes through every single one of the leaves. I brought it inside…but I do not know where to cut it down to. There are only three buds, and the stems only have about two-three branches coming out of it. Am I too late??

   Hi Deidre
   Can you plant it outside for the winter? It will have a hard time indoors.
   If you want to keep it indoors, cut away any dried and dead stems. For a severe pruning trim the whole plant back by 1/2 to 2/3 and place it in a bright sunny window. When you see new growth, give it a light dose of fertilizer to get it started.

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6. Elena - February 17, 2010 at 6:54 pm

   Separating mini rose
   Hi! I have just bought miniature roses in a pot and in this pot there are three little bushes growing together. I am going to transplant them now in a bigger pot and i have a question : should I divide these little bushes from each other and put them in three seperate pots or is it ok just to put them in one bigger pot like they are growing now in one pot? I want to say that I will eventually plant them outside, I just want to give them a little more soil now while it’s still cold outside and they look like they need repotting. And I forgot to mention that they are having flowers right now. What would you recommend?
   I will appreciate your answer a lot. Looking forward to it.

   Hi Elena
   If you want more plants, you can separate the rose bush and plant them into individual pots. It will be much more tramatic on the plants. If you don’t want to shock it too much just re-pot into a larger pot. Loosen the roots at the bottom of the rootball and place in a container that is 1-2″ larger. After transplanting, water well and place it in a shaded area for a few days, then move it to a sunny window.

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7. Gerri - May 22, 2011 at 5:27 pm

   Black spot disease
   I have 3 rose bushes: red, coral and white. The bloom well but for some reason, they get brown spots on the leaves and the white ones always look dirty or brownish when they bloom. Please help!

   Hi Gerri
   Black spot is a common fungal disease on roses. It occurs when temperatures are above 65F and in rainy, high humid weather. 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.

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8. Melissa - August 7, 2011 at 6:25 am

   I live on a Houseboat in the Florida Keys and have had an outdoor potted Mini Rose for 6 months. I repotted it in Miracle Grow a few days after purchase.It’s kept out of direct sun on a shelf under the front awning/portico and is watered once a week/every Sunday..(sometimes a little on Wed too..if i see it’s dried out an inch or so below soil level.) I have not pruned it (only pinch off dead flowers) and have had continuous blooms. I read online that adding coffee grounds to the soil will help provide some necessary nutrients..which i did about a week ago. Other than that I have not used any fertizer..i thought i’d wait till next spring because the Miracle Grow has the slow time release fertilizer beads already in it) My question is ..what is causing the majority of the tips to brown and then turn yellow? I trim the brown tips and/or pinch off entire leaf every other day.i’ve been ‘battleing’ this for about 2-3 months. This is my first mini rose since moving here 7 yrs ago..being from Chicago burbs and occasionally having tried growing these there for over 20 yrs … w/ absolutely no luck..I had given up ;( ..but a neighbor gave me this little beauty for Valntine’s Day…Please help!! :0

   Hi Melissa
   Browning leaf tips will occur when a plant is under stress. Overwatering or underwatering are some of the symptoms of browning tips. My guess is that your plant is not getting enough water. Plants require more water during the heat of summer. Make sure you water deeply so that all the roots get moisture. If water drains too fast, then the issue can be with the soil. Eventhough you water, soil that will not retain moisture will keep the plant dry. Too much fertilizer will also cause browning tips.

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