Don't let the delicate
appearance fool you! These little gems are hardy enough
to grow outdoors in zones 6-10 without winter protection,
and with a good cover of mulch they will survive winters
as far north as zone 4. Miniature roses are surprisingly
easy to grow, and they look great as edgings for your beds
or borders, accent plants for rock gardens, and as houseplants.
Miniature roses range in size from
the micro-minis which grow to about five inches, up to a
height four feet or more. The flowers are from 1/2 inch
to two inches in diameter, and the range of colors is similar
to that of full-sized roses. Most types will bloom from
spring until frost. Unfortunately, miniature roses have
little or no fragrance.
When grown indoors as pot plants,
miniature roses need a little special care. Even when grown
in the sunniest window, they will usually need supplemental
light. You will know your rose isn't getting enough light
when the stems seem to stretch out leaving wide spaces between
the leaves.
Miniature roses also need lots of
humidity if kept indoors. Set your pot in a tray of pebbles
and water. The pebbles will support the pot above the water
level so the soil doesn't become waterlogged. As it evaporates,
the water will provide the plant with extra humidity. If
you house is very dry, run a cool-mist vaporizer now and
then.
Spider mites and whiteflies are drawn
to indoor miniature roses. To reduce the chances of these
pests attacking your plants, give them a weekly shower.
Take care to thoroughly rinse both the tops and the undersides
of the leaves. To treat whiteflies, use an insecticidal
soap at five day intervals or spray with a solution of four
parts water to three parts rubbing alcohol -- add a squirt
of dish soap for good measure -- and keep the plant out
of the light until the alcohol dries completely.
Soap spray and alcohol spray also
work for spider mites, and you might also try buttermilk
spray: mix 1/2 cup buttermilk with 4 cups wheat flour to
5 gallons of water. Quarantine infested plants until you
are sure that the insects are irradiated. In extreme cases,
you can strip the leaves off the plant and cut it back by
half. Don't worry, you won't kill it, and you'll soon see
signs of new growth.
For the best blooms, use a fertilizer
that is high in potassium. The last number in the N-P-K
ratio indicates the amount of potassium, and an N-P-K ratio
of 5-5-10 is a good choice. Mix the fertilizer to about
1/4 strength and use it once a week.
After your roses spend a season indoors,
it's best to plant them outdoors and get new, disease and
pest-free plants to use indoors. They can be planted directly
in the garden or kept in containers, but remember that outdoor
plants in small containers can dry out quickly. Harden them
off before placing them outdoors permanently.
About the Author:
Jackie Carroll is the editor of GardenGuides.com, a leading
internet destination for gardening information and ideas.
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