How to Grow Miniature Roses

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Last Updated: August 12, 2020 References Approved

Miniature roses are easy-to-grow, smaller varieties of the popular plant. Rather than full-size roses, these grow to an average of 16 in (41 cm) tall. These species sadly have little or no scent, but they still make gorgeous additions to any garden. Miniature roses are common houseplants, but they are best grown outdoors in ample sunlight. Plant them in your garden, water them every 1-2 days, and feed them fertilizer every 3 weeks. You can easily grow miniature roses in either your garden or in containers!

Part 1

Part 1 of 5:

Choosing Your Roses

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Grow miniature roses outdoors if you live in grow zones 4-11. To find your grow zone, search for “climate zone” online and select a website offering a grow zone calculator. Type in your ZIP code, and the grow zone calculator will give you a number and/or a letter, like "6b." Miniature roses grow best in climate zones 4-11.^{[1]
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- If you don’t live in this climate zone, your roses may not grow well outdoors. Consider keeping them in containers inside your home if you still want to grow them.
2
Choose a variety of miniature rose. While they are often gifted in small containers, miniature roses grow best outdoors. Species of miniature roses can grow from 5 in (13 cm) to 3 ft (0.91 m), depending on their type. To pick a type of rose, search online for “miniature rose varieties” and browse the options.^{[2]
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- Make your decision based on color, height, and width.
- Popular miniature rose varieties include Hakuun, Little Flirt, La White Pet, Mister Bluebird, Robin, and The Fairy.^{[3]
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- If you want larger roses, try variations like Arthur Bell, Eutin, Lilly Marlene, and Orange Triumph.
- Go with smaller height varieties if you want to grow roses indoors.
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3
Get your roses from a local nursery or floral shop. Miniature roses are most commonly purchased in small containers, whether you are using them for your garden or as a gift. Locate a nearby store by searching online, and pick out a miniature rose bush. Choose your bush based on rose variety, color, and size. Select 1 plant or several, depending on how many you'd like to grow.
- If you are shopping for miniature roses in the month of February or May, expect a backorder or waitlist. Miniature roses are very popular Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day gifts.

Part 2

Part 2 of 5:

Deciding Where to Plant

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Grow your roses outdoors for best results. Miniature roses are best grown outdoors, as they require ample sunlight. For best results, store them in a greenhouse. Greenhouses encourage flowers to grow healthy and beautiful because they optimize sunlight, temperature, and humidity. If you do not have a greenhouse, grow them either in your garden or in raised beds.
- For example, place them along your garden as a border, or line other flowers with a row of roses.
- Alternatively, place your potted miniature roses outside in your garden.
2
Grow roses in 8–10 in (20–25 cm) containers to easily transport them. It is best to use small containers with 3 or more draining holes when planting roses. Purchase these at most home supply stores or nurseries. Select 1 container for each of your rose bushes.^{[4]
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- Use a pot or hanging basket, for example.
- Use an appropriately sized container based on the size of your plant's roots. Get a container that is 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) larger than your plant.
- If your container is too large, your roses may be reluctant to grow. If your container is too small, your roses will be cramped.
3
Choose a location with at least 6 or more hours of direct sunlight a day. Roses, as a whole, require ample sunlight to grow healthy and beautiful flowers. Whether you are growing them in your garden or in containers, make sure they are in a place where they receive at least 6 hours of sunlight a day.^{[5]
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- Make sure your spot does not have any shade from large trees or any other cast shadows.

Part 3

Part 3 of 5:

Planting Your Roses Outside

1
Plant roses in the spring or early summer, based on their instructions. Each species has slight variations to their growing conditions. Check your particular instructions to determine the best time to plant your roses outside.^{[6]
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- For most climates, May to June is the best time to grow miniature roses.
2
Dig a hole 1 ft (0.30 m) deep and about 10 in (25 cm) wide. You want your hole to be large enough to completely house your roses’ root systems. It is helpful to have your hole 2–3 in (5.1–7.6 cm) wider than your plant itself, so it has room to grow. To dig your hole, insert a garden tool or a shovel into the ground, and remove dirt until you reach about 1 ft (0.30 m) deep.^{[7]
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- The size of your hole can be a rough estimate.
3
Place the roots into your hole. If there are any tangled roots, shake out the extra dirt and untangle them. Then, place the rose bush’s roots inside the hole directly in the center.^{[8]
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Fill the rest of your hole up with potting soil specifically for roses. For best results, purchase rose potting soil from a home supply or garden store. Rose soil is a type of well-drained soil used for optimal rose health. Scoop the soil with a garden shear, and dump it into your hole. Continue doing this until the hole is completely full.^{[9]
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5
Cover your soil in a 2–4 in (5.1–10.2 cm) layer of mulch. Mulch helps reduce stress on the plant, conserve water, and encourage healthy growth. Scoop mulch with your garden tool or shovel, and spread it over your soil. Leave about 1 in (2.5 cm) between the base of the stem and the mulch.^{[10]
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6
Water your roses immediately after you plant them. Place your gardening hose at the base of your rose bush, and water your roses for a minute or so until they are thoroughly saturated.^{[11]
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- Watering your flowers right after you plant them helps the roots take to the new soil.

Part 4

Part 4 of 5:

Growing Miniature Roses in Containers

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Fill the bottom of your pot with 2–5 in (5.1–12.7 cm) of soil. Use soil formulated for roses, and pour the soil into your pot using a garden spade. The root system of miniature roses is about 1 ft (0.30 m), so make sure you have space to adequately plant the bush.^{[12]
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- You can purchase rose formulated soil at most home and garden centers.
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Put your rose bush inside the pot and fill the pot up with rose soil. Place your roses in the center of the pot, and pour your soil into the pot using a garden spade. Continue filling the pot with rose soil until you reach the top.^{[13]
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Place your roses next to a large window so they get ample sunlight. Roses require at least 6 hours of sunlight, so place them in a sunny location in your home.^{[14]
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- When the weather is nice, you can place the potted plants on your porch or doorstep.

Part 5

Part 5 of 5:

Caring for Miniature Roses

1
Water your roses every 1-2 days. To check your soil’s moisture level, simply stick your finger all the way into the soil. If it is dry, you should water your roses. Roses tend to absorb water quickly, and they require ample water to grow beautiful flowers. Place your hose at the base of your roses and leave it there for about a minute to thoroughly saturate your roses.^{[15]
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- Your roses may need to be watered every day for the first 3 weeks or so (if you are in the Northern Hemisphere).
- Water with 3 inches (7.6 cm) of water spread out through the week.
2
Mist your flowers with water once every 2-4 days to keep them hydrated. In addition to watering your flowers, spray a light, even layer of water onto the flowers.^{[16]
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- This helps keep the flowers clean and moisturizes the petals.
3
Feed your plants rose fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. To feed your plants, simply sprinkle a ¹⁄₂ in (1.3 cm) layer of fertilizer over the topsoil every few weeks. This replenishes vital nutrients, like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. ^{[17]
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- Purchase fertilizer at garden centers and home supply stores.
- Alternatively, use compost to feed your roses.
4
Cut flowers with pruning shears when they start to fade. As soon as you see any flowers begin to fade, cut the stem directly below the flower at a 45-degree angle to encourage new growth. The flowers are ready to be cut when they lose their color or start to wilt. This is also known as “deadheading” the bush.^{[18]
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- Never pull off your flowers with your fingers. This damages the plant and encourages diseases.
- Cut off dead leaves or stems as well.
- Make sure your pruning shears are sharp!
- Sterilize your cutting tools before and after you prune.
5
Prune miniature roses in the fall once they have matured. Once your rose bush has grown to full size, begin pruning it in the fall. Cut the branches at a 45-degree angle about ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) above outward-facing bud eyes. The amount you trim will depend on the number of bud eyes on your plant, but you should trim about 1/2 to 2/3 of the plant. This helps conserve nutrients as the temperatures start to get cold.^{[19]
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- The bud eyes are the knobs on the stem that produce flowers.
6
Cover your roses with mulch in the winter if growing them outdoors. To put your roses into dormancy over the winter, cover them in a layer of mulch about 2 in (5.1 cm) thick. Cover the whole bush with mulch to protect your plants from the elements. Use your shovel to help you spread the mulch.^{[20]
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- Cover the plants with mulch 1-3 frosts before the temperatures stay at freezing.
- If your roses are in containers, bring them inside and place them in a sunny spot by the window.
- To bring them back in the spring, remove the mulch, water the roots, and provide compost or fertilizer on top.

Expert Q&A

Question

Can you grow miniature roses indoors?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

You can begin mini roses indoors, however, you will need to move the plants outside in order to continue the optimal growth process.
Question

How wide do miniature roses get?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

How wide mini roses grow is largely dependent on growing conditions, but mini roses grow to an average height of 15 inches.
Question

Do miniature roses need full sun?

Maggie Moran
Home & Garden Specialist
Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.

Maggie Moran

Home & Garden Specialist

Expert Answer

Mini roses need at least 5-6 hours of full sun per day. Plant them in a location that gets at least this much sunlight so that they thrive.

Things You'll Need

Miniature rose bush
Garden shears
Garden gloves
Shovel
Fertilizer
Water source
Misting bottle
Container (optional)
Greenhouse (optional)

Warnings

Inspect your garden regularly for persistent pests like aphids, mites, and flies. Spray them with a vinegar solution as a natural deterrent. Pour 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of vinegar into about a 33 ounce (1 L) spray bottle, and spray a light layer over the leaves and stems of only the target plants.^{[21]
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