Growing Minature Roses
Good things often come in small packages and that's very true of miniature roses. Miniature roses have all the great attributes of regular roses - generous bloom of beautifully formed flowers, fragrance and versatile plant form - the only difference is that everything is smaller. Plants range in height from as small as 6 inches up to 4 feet. Flowers are usually just an inch or two wide, and the leaves are also tiny, giving the plant a more refined, delicate texture.
Even though they're small, miniature roses can have a big impact in the landscape. They are ideal for planting in containers, perfect for mixing annual and perennial flowers, or planting in hanging baskets. The compact habit of many varieties makes them very useful for edging walkways, or fronting perennial borders or shrub plantings. Miniature roses also work well in mass plantings and more spreading types can even be used as small scale ground covers.
Varieties
There are literally hundreds of different varieties of miniature roses available from local nurseries, home improvement retailers, and mail order rose catalogs, with dozens of new ones released each year. Blooming miniature roses sold in pots in supermarkets and florists were usually grown in greenhouses and not always well adapted to outdoor conditions.
Among the many miniature roses to choose from, favorites include red-flowering 'Black Jade', 'Debut', 'Halo Today' and 'Starina'; pink-blooming 'Cupcake', 'Child's Play' and fragrant 'Overnight Scentsation'; mauve 'Winsome' and fragrant 'Scentsational'; orange 'Hot Tamale' and 'New Beginning'; yellow 'Center Gold', 'Rise 'n' Shine' and 'Little Tommy Tucker'; white 'Figurine', 'Gourmet Popcorn' and 'Pacesetter'; and a rainbow of multi-colored types.
Caring For Miniatures
Plant miniature roses in full sun (at least 6 hours per day) and water regularly during dry periods. Plants are more shallow-rooted than other types of roses, so mulch heavily and be careful not to let the plants dry out. Feed every four to six weeks with Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules. Miniature roses are pretty tough plants but they should be given winter protection where temperatures fall below 10ยบ F. A thick mulch of leaves or ground bark is usually enough.
Miniature roses are easy to prune. Simply shear plants back by 1/3 to 1/2 , then remove dead or crowded branches. Thin out the center of the plant for good air circulation.
Check plants often for signs of insects and disease. To control insect pests like aphids, mites and thrips, and fertilize at the same time, use Bayer Advanced™ 2-in-1 Systemic Rose & Flower Care Granules. It feeds and protects for up to 6 weeks.
Products Mentioned In This Article
Bayer Advanced
