Miniature Roses
~ By Bonnie ~
I have had Miniature Roses for 20 years. When I
lived in Illinois, I had a large bed in the front yard of nothing but Mini's!! I had
about 25 in it.
It was so odd because I think that the root system must have somehow intertwined
because each plant would bloom a multitude of colors on the same plant and that
is NOT normal for them. I was so hoping my daughter would have dug them
up when she was the last one to move away from our farm, but she didn’t think of it.
I have always kept a small bed of Minis outside since I moved here to Ohio some 10
years ago. Unfortunately they did not come back 2 years ago. I bought some more
and redid the bed with fresh dirt but again they did not come back. I can’t bear to lose
anymore so I will be digging them up and bringing them indoors for the winter.
For a little background of Miniature Roses, known mostly as Mini's, I found a lot of
information on the net.
Miniature roses have taken American gardeners by storm over the past twenty years,
with much credit for their popularity going to
Ralph Moore of
Visalia, California. Mr. Moore is considered to be the Patron Saint of the miniature
roses, having undertaken their breeding over 60 years ago, at a time when nobody
much cared about growing tiny replicas of their larger garden counterparts.
In the past few years, Miniature roses have become the biggest seller in the roses
market. While I cannot verify this statistic, I have been quoted that Miniatures outsell
all other roses four-to-one!
These are excellent performers, both in pots and in the garden. There are cut flower
types, and small shrubs for garden uses, and all colors but true blue is represented
as well. Most of these small roses are perfectly hardy in all but the coldest areas;
almost all are quite a bit hardier than most
Hybrid Teas.
The early miniatures were largely chance discoveries from China and Switzerland,
and were thought to be a variety named R. chinensis minima. In the 1800's
they were referred to as Lawrencianas, named after one of their discoverers. A
number of varieties were well known at that time, (1810-1846) but sadly, it appears
that all of them have become extinct.
A Little Information On The Care Of Mini's
Care Indoors:
Potted miniature roses from florists or garden centers need at least 5 to 6 hours of
direct sun from south- or west-facing windows for growth and flowering. Rotate the
pots once or twice a week to encourage balanced growth.
Miniature roses also need consistent moisture. When the top inch of soil is dry to
the touch, thoroughly soak the plants until the water flows freely out of the bottom
of the container. Discard the excess water.
Regular applications (once or twice per month) of a complete fertilizer are needed
when plants are flowering. Soluble or slow release fertilizers can be used, however,
excessive fertilizer encourages rampant growth and inhibits flowering.
Keep container plants well watered and fertilize frequently. Bring plants indoors
before a hard frost in fall, or plant the roses in the ground.
No fertilizer should be added after mid to late August to help plants prepare for
dormancy.
Pruning:
Remove flowers as they fade and cut plants back to the uppermost five-leaflet leaf.
At the same time, remove any yellowing leaves or dead branches. Removing weak
and spindly canes also help more light reach the plant interior.
Outdoor Care:
To ensure survival over the winter, partially cover miniature roses in late fall then
place soil at the base of the plant, followed by a covering of leaves. Plants can be
smothered if they are covered completely. Uncover plants in late spring.
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