Just like their bigger cousins, miniature roses aren’t exactly fans of long, freezing winters. If you want to keep your tiny blooms happy, you’ll need to know just how much cold they can handle and what steps to take before the frost hits. Follow these tips, and you won’t have to lose any sleep over your plants during the chilly months.
When to Start Worrying
If you’re growing extra-sensitive varieties or keeping your mini roses in containers, you’ve got to be especially careful. Unlike roses planted in the ground, potted roses don’t have the earth to insulate their roots. This means the frost can reach the root ball much faster, which is bad news for your plant.
For potted roses and more delicate types, your best bet is to move them to a frost-free spot. But here’s the catch: don’t just bring them into your cozy, heated living room! That will mess with their natural growth cycle. They’re happiest in a spot that stays between 40°F and 60°F (5°C to 15°C)—think an unheated greenhouse, a sunroom, or a cool garage with a window.
Winter Care Tips for Mini Roses
If you’ve moved your roses indoors for the winter, give them a drink about twice a month. You want to keep the soil from drying out completely without overwatering them. If you have hardier varieties planted in your garden beds, you still need to prep them before the first big freeze. Mounding some fallen leaves or mulch around the base of the plant provides a nice “blanket” to protect them from the worst of the cold.
Quick Winter Checklist:
- Move pots to a cool spot (40°F–60°F) or mulch outdoor plants.
- Stop all fertilizing.
- Water about twice a month.
Springing Back to Life
Once the threat of frost has passed in the spring, move your pots back out into a sunny spot. For your garden roses, clear away that layer of leaves or mulch you added in the fall. To give them a little “wake-up call” and boost new growth, start using a good rose fertilizer again. For your potted plants, spring is the perfect time to refresh the soil or upgrade them to a larger pot if they’ve outgrown their current home. It’s also the ideal season for pruning your miniature roses to keep them looking sharp!
