Stores are now beginning to offer this in the form of miniature roses - pretty little plants that are packed solid with flowers.
These little shrubs are sold in the peak of health, coddled to perfection in heated greenhouses, while being fertilized, groomed and misted.
When they arrive in your home, place them in a brightly lit room. Cool temperatures will help prolong the blooming period. However, don't expect these shrubs to bloom forever. Flowers will gradually taper off and the plant will go through a recovery period.
Pots do have a tendency to dry out quickly in the home environment so monitor them daily and keep them moist. Make sure you mist the foliage every day to duplicate the humidity provided by dew. It also helps to prevent spider mites from moving in and setting up shop.
If the stems of your miniature roses appear to stretch out, leaving wide gaps between the leaves, it’s a strong hint that your rose is not getting enough light.
Either move it to a new location or provide supplemental light.
When spring arrives you can start putting your wee rose bush outside for an hour or two each day in a shaded location, gradually increasing the exposure time.
The beauty of being small makes these roses easy to tuck into containers. Add a good handful of bone meal around the roots for in-ground planting or in pots and be sure to remember to feed them weekly during the summer with water-soluble fertilizer.
Outdoors, you’ll see most miniature roses go through re-blooming periods from spring until the winter season. Cover the base in late November with mulch and it will stand a good chance of overwintering.
The flowers from these roses are ideal for making diminutive bouquets, for decorating gifts or cards, or teacup arrangements.
I’ve also found that they dry beautifully. Simply hang them upside down in a warm area that has good air circulation.
A little potted rose makes a thoughtful gift for shut-ins but also yourself. Don’t you deserve a little pick-me-up right now with spring just around the corner?
