Can You Grow Roses Indoors?
Roses, with their attractive appearance and scent, are one of the most desirable perennial flowers. Long a symbol of romance, roses come in a wide variety of sizes, shapes and colors, from huge, heavily ruffled flowers to fragrant climbers. Although beautiful, roses have specific care needs and are highly susceptible to many insect pests and diseases. In addition, many grow to large sizes. For these reasons, roses are difficult to grow indoors. Does this Spark an idea?
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Light Issues
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Roses need full sunlight to grow and bloom properly. Even if you place a rose in a window that is exposed to direct sunlight, the part of the rose that isn't facing the sunlight might not get enough light. To facilitate growth, place your rose in a three-sided window that gets sunlight throughout the day. In addition, turn your rose so that all sides receive at least some sunlight each day.
Soil and Water
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Roses need to be kept continually moist. Too little water and they will quickly become stressed. Too much water will encourage the development of fungal diseases, including root rot. In addition, the soil needs to be well draining. Home gardeners often solve this problem by planting outdoor roses in raised beds, but this cannot be done indoors. Gardeners who wish to grow roses indoors should use pots with drainage holes and a planting medium that encourages water to drain, such as soilless planting mixtures made for orchids.
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Insect Pests & Diseases
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Roses are vulnerable to attacks by a number of insect pests. Indoor roses in particular are likely to suffer from severe spider mite infestations. While these infestations can sometimes be controlled by rinsing the plant in water, this is not always feasible with larger plants. Many home gardeners control insect pests on roses with insecticidal sprays, which ma;y not the best choice for indoor roses because you don't want to be spraying chemicals around your house. Care should also be taken when using fungicides. Roses are susceptible to a number of fungal diseases, including powdery mildew and leaf spot. The warm, humid, still environment of many homes only contributes to this problem. Roses grown outdoors can be sprayed with fungicide on a regular basis, but indoor roses should only be sprayed with a fungicide that is made for indoor use.
Other Considerations
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If you are determined to grow roses indoors, try miniature roses. These tiny plants range in size from only a few inches to 18 inches tall. They are small enough to get enough sunlight in most windows and can be easily rinsed off if infested with pests. Plant indoor miniature roses in a pot that is at least 4 inches in diameter, and spray it once a month with a solution composed of 1 tbsp of baking soda mixed with a gallon of water to help prevent fungal diseases.
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References
- Maryland Geological Survey; The Joy of Miniature Roses Indoors; Larry Toole
- University of Illinois Extension Our Rose Garden: Disease and Insect Pests
- University of Illinois Extension Our Rose Garden: Water, Mulch and Fertilizer
- University of Illinois Extension Homeowner's Garden; Miniature Roses Make Nice Valentine's Day Gifts; Sandra Mason; Feb. 2005
- Photo Credit Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
