How to Grow Roses Indoors in Pots
The best roses to grow indoors are miniature roses (Rosa chinensis Minima) because they are a smaller version of the floribunda rose and much easier to manage in small pots. Indoor rose growing is ideal if your U.S. Department of Agriculture hardiness zone is too harsh for roses. Check your local garden center for container roses that look strong and healthy. With proper care, you can expect your miniature roses to thrive indoors and grow up to 2 feet tall. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- 6- to 8-inch pot with drainage holes
- Potting mix
- Small watering can
- Dish
- Small rocks or pebbles
- Humidifier (optional)
- Potassium-rich fertilizer
- Garden scissors
Instructions
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Plant miniature roses in a 6- to 8-inch pot with drainage holes.
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Place your hand inside the soil in the plant's container to loosen the soil around the root ball and expose the roots. Transfer the plant to the center of your pot. Fill it with potting mix containing vermiculite and perlite. Work the soil mixture around the roots to get rid of any air pockets.
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Place your pot at a south- or west-facing window to ensure your roses receive large amounts of sunlight; at least six hours of direct sunlight every day is the recommendation from Iowa State University's horticulture program. Rotate the pots every couple of weeks to help them grow evenly. The ideal temperature for indoor roses is 60 F or warmer.
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Water miniature roses regularly so that their pots never dry out. Check the top inch of soil by inserting your fingertip; if it is dry, your roses need to be watered. Pour water straight from a small watering can into the pot until water is running out of the drainage holes. Avoid watering the leaves, which can lead to mildew.
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Place your pot on a dish full of small rocks or pebbles. Add water to the dish, making sure the water level does not reach the base of the pot. This increases the room's humidity and stops the plant's leaves from turning yellow and shriveling; another option is to place a humidifier in the room.
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Give your plant a potassium-rich fertilizer a couple of times a month during the blooming phase. Apply the fertilizer at one-quarter of the normal strength to avoid over-fertilizing your miniature roses.
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Remove fading blooms with garden scissors by trimming the stem back to the first leaf with five leaflets. Cut off all yellow, diseased or dead leaves. Remove rotting canes to allow sunlight into the center of the plant.
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References
- Photo Credit Thomas Northcut/Digital Vision/Getty Images
