I have a miniature rose growing in a pot outdoors on my patio. How do I over-winter it?
I have a miniature rose growing in a pot outdoors on my patio. How do I over-winter it?
A potted miniature rose can be kept as a houseplant through the winter months. Bring the plant indoors before a hard freeze. Place the miniature rose in a sunny window or under artificial lighting. Avoid sites near cold drafts or heat sources. Water the plant when the soil surface becomes dry to the touch. Apply a dilute fertilizer solution every 2 to 4 weeks through the fall and winter months.
Another option would be to over-winter the miniature rose outdoors. In early November, dig a hole in a protected garden location. Place the potted rose in the hole. Then place soil around the pot. Several days later, cover the bottom 8 to 10 inches of the rose with additional soil. The soil should remain in place through the winter months. In early April, remove the soil around the canes, carefully dig up the potted rose, and prune out any dead wood. At this time, the dormant rose could be planted into the ground or repotted into a slightly larger container.
Learn more about growing roses in this article: Growing Roses in Iowa.
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