Like their outdoor cousins, miniature roses go through a blooming cycle and a rest cycle each season. They naturally bloom from late spring through early fall. After they have finished blooming for the season, they will need a rest period of several months before they will bloom again. Ideally, during this rest period mini-roses should be kept as cool as possible without freezing. After resting, prune them back to encourage compact new growth.

To select a good miniature rose for indoor use, look for a plant with glossy green foliage. Even though the leaves are small, the plant should look fairly full. Miniature roses should have several flowers open and lots of buds in various stages of development. The plant size should look appropriate for the container. When the container is too small, they tend to tip over and are hard to keep watered adequately. When the container is too large, miniature roses are more reluctant to bloom.

How much water do they need?
It is important to keep the soil evenly moist while they are actively growing and blooming. After they have finished their bloom cycle, water can be cut back and the soil allowed to dry slightly between watering.

Do they have any special temperature requirements?
Miniature roses will grow best in a cool location, especially during the winter. If temperatures exceed 75º in the summer, be sure to increase the humidity.

Do miniature roses need much humidity?
They like high humidity, but avoid wetting the foliage or flowers. To increase the moisture in the air, use a humidity tray or a humidifier.

How much fertilizer do they require?
During the spring and summer, fertilize miniature roses every 2 weeks with a water soluble food. During the fall and winter, cut back to once a month with a half strength solution.

What type of soil do they prefer?
Miniature roses grow best in a quality, peat-based potting soil such as Bachman's Exceloam.

When should I repot my miniature roses?
If you are keeping them over from year to year, repot them in the spring. They do like to be potbound, so be sure not to increase the pot size too much.

Will they need any grooming?
While they don't like leafshine products, they do appreciate an occasional shower to remove dust from the leaves. Prune out the flowers as they begin to fade so the plant will put its energy into producing more flowers instead of forming rose hips.

How are they propagated?
Miniature roses can be propagated by taking tip cuttings while the plant is actively growing and before it begins setting buds. Use a rooting hormone and keep the cuttings under a humidity dome.

When mini-roses aren't full of branches and leaves, what is the cause?
This is probably due to too little light. Roses require several hours of direct sunlight each day in addition to a brightly lighted location the rest of the day.

What causes leaves to turn brown?
When mini-roses are kept too hot or the air is too dry, they develop some brown leaves, usually toward the ends of branches.

What causes the leaves to pale?
If they are just pale at the center of the leaves, it is probably a shortage of magnesium. When the leaves are consistently pale, they need fertilizer. If they are being fed according to recommendations and still look pale, check the pH of the soil and water. When the pH gets too far above what the rose prefers (around 6.0-6.5), it inhibits the plant's ability to utilize the fertilizer.

If the leaves are pale and have streaks through them, what is the problem?
This might be mosaic virus. Isolate the plant from any others and bring a sample of the affected leaves in to be checked. If it is mosaic virus, the rose will have to be destroyed.

If the plant wilts, what is the problem?
Generally, wilting is the result of lack of water. Soak the plant thoroughly and see if it recovers. Wilting can also be caused by excessive heat or excessive water. If it is too much water, some of the inner leaves will yellow, signaling that the roots may be damaged.

When leaves develop dark patches, what is the cause?
Large dark areas or dark leaves usually indicate damage from the cold. Smaller dark patches can be black spot, a fungal disease problem.

Are they prone to any insect problems?
Unfortunately, like all other roses, they are susceptible to a variety of insect problems including aphids and spider mites. They can be sprayed with any insecticide labeled for indoor use.

Do miniature roses have any disease problems?
Again, like most roses, they do tend to have problems with powdery mildew and black spot. Fungicides are good preventatives, but need to be used before the problem is severe. Diseases can usually be avoided by keeping the plants as stress-free as possible by providing the necessary light, humidity, water, air circulation and fertilizer.