How Do I Grow Miniature Roses?

Like their larger cousins, miniature roses can be trained to grow in many different ways for nearly any kind of garden. Growing miniature roses doesn't require a lot of gardening skill or experience, and can be a good project for amateur gardeners. The basic requirements are good soil, lots of water, and plenty of sunlight. Whether creating an indoor garden or covering a trellis, choosing to grow miniature roses can create a spectacular display with only a few basic steps.

Selecting good miniature rose plants is the first step to growing great roses. A true rose, miniature specimens have been bred for centuries to retain a small, delicate size. When visiting the nursery or garden store, look for plants that have a sturdy main stem and no signs of yellowing leaves or tiny bugs. Most mini roses will include a tag that specifies their size, color, and variety. Though many varieties can be trained to grow in a myriad of ways, it may be easier to choose rose plants that are specifically meant for the type of gardening intended; Climbing or trailing varieties are great for growing on walls or trellises, while micro or super miniatures are wonderful for edging a border or growing indoors.

Choosing the right spot in a garden will also help a beginner create a wonderful crop of roses. Most miniature roses require several hours of sunlight a day, either out in the garden or on an indoor windowsill. If a garden only receives partial sunlight, consider planting the roses in small, lightweight planters that can be easily moved around the garden. This will allow a gardener to shift the roses into the sun throughout the day, ensuring that the plants receive a good dose of warmth and sunlight.

Most roses grow well in clay or potting soil; relatively hardy flowers, they can do well in a variety of soil mixtures, though extremely sandy soil should usually be avoided. To plant, dig a hole about as wide and deep as the rose's plant pot, then carefully remove the plant from its original container. Some gardeners recommend twisting the root structure very gently before placing the plant in the ground. Holding the rose steady, carefully fill the area around it with soil and a little rose fertilizer or compost. The rose can then be watered to help it settle into the soil.

Miniature roses generally need to be lightly watered every other day in temperate climates; in warm climates or during a heat spell, they may be watered once a day. Some gardening experts suggest watering plants early in the morning before the sun hits the plant, or in the evening after the sun has set, to prevent the sun from burning vulnerable wet leaves. Roses should be re-fertilized or fed every few weeks until winter arrives. With a simple regimen of watering and the occasional feeding, miniature roses may bloom from late spring all the way through early winter.