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Potting

How to Grow Roses Indoors This Winter

By: Stephan Winterfeldt, Expert Horticultural Advisor, Jackson and Perkins

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As the fall months usher in cooler weather, your garden roses will begin to wind down, producing fewer blooms before they eventually go dormant for the winter. Depending on your USDA Hardiness Zone, it might be time to prepare your outdoor roses for the cold season. But does that mean saying goodbye to roses altogether until next summer? The good news is you don’t have to!

Yes, you can grow roses indoors, and they make for stunning houseplants when you choose the right varieties and give them the care they need.

The Best Roses to Grow Indoors

While it’s true that many outdoor roses, like hybrid teas and Grandifloras, are too large for indoor growing there are other rose types perfectly suited for life inside your home. Let’s look at some of the best options:

  •      Miniature Roses: Miniature roses are bred to be compact, making them ideal for indoor environments. Their small size doesn’t take away from their beauty, though—these tiny plants still produce classic, elegant rose blooms. With proper care, they can thrive in pots on sunny windowsills and bloom year-round.
  •      Tree and Patio Roses: Patio roses are slightly larger than miniature varieties but can still be grown indoors in large containers. They are compact enough to work as indoor plants and will reward you with larger flowers than the miniatures while still fitting in indoor spaces.

Essential Tips for Growing Roses Indoors

To ensure your indoor roses thrive and bloom beautifully, it’s important to meet their key needs. Follow these tips for healthy, happy plants:

1.    Ample Light: Roses are sun lovers, and indoor varieties are no exception. Your roses will need at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight each day. If you don’t have a bright enough spot indoors, such as a south- or west-facing window, supplement with a grow light. Roses will struggle without adequate light, so this is a crucial step.

2.    Watering with Care: Roses prefer consistent moisture, but they don’t like sitting in soggy soil. Water your indoor roses when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Water thoroughly, ensuring any excess drains from the pot. It’s also important to avoid letting the plant sit in standing water, as this can lead to root rot. If your home is particularly dry, you can raise the humidity around your plant by placing the pot on a tray filled with water and pebbles.

3.    Maintaining Proper Temperature: Indoor roses like to stay in a comfortable range, with daytime temperatures in the 70s°F and nighttime temps in the 60s°F. Avoid placing them near cold drafts or heat sources like vents, which can stress the plant.

4.    Feeding Your Roses: If your rose is actively growing or blooming, it will benefit from regular fertilization. Use a balanced fertilizer specifically designed for roses and follow the package instructions for the right application rate. Fertilizing when your plant is dormant or stressed can do more harm than good, so make sure to adjust feeding to your plant’s growth cycle.

Can You Move Indoor Roses Outside?

Once warmer weather returns, you may want to give your indoor roses some outdoor time. This is certainly possible, but you’ll need to take a few precautions. Roses that have been indoors need to be gradually introduced to the brighter, harsher conditions outside.

To acclimate your roses, start by placing them in a shaded area for a few days before gradually moving them to a sunnier spot. This process, known as "hardening off," will protect the plant from sunburn and help it adjust to the outdoor environment. You can leave your rose in its pot and enjoy it on a patio or plant it directly in the garden if you prefer.

For those living in colder climates, miniature roses can survive outdoors through the winter with proper protection. Be sure to mulch around the base of the plant or cover it with a frost blanket, just as you would for your larger garden roses.

Indoor Roses: A Rewarding Choice

Growing roses indoors lets you enjoy their beauty all year long, even when the garden is dormant. No matter which variety you choose roses will add color and natural charm to your home. Follow these tips because the reward is a house filled with beautiful, blooming roses no matter what season.

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