Do Miniature Roses Freeze?

Miniature Roses

• Miniature roses bloom throughout the growing season with small, perfectly formed blooms. These colorful, easy-care additions to mixed beds and borders are also natural subjects for the container garden. The plants range in size from tiny bushes under 1 foot high to aggressive climbers 5 to 10 feet high and wide. The flowers are available in every color except blue, as well as in variegated varieties. Most are hardy to USDA Zone 5, where winter temperatures regularly fall to minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Winter toleration varies slightly according to cultivar.

Planting for Success

• Roses require full sun, organically enriched, well-drained soil and good air circulation. Miniature roses are planted with the expected size of the mature rosebush, and that of surrounding companion plants, in mind. Dig a planting hole at least twice as deep and wide as the nursery container. Mix the removed garden soil half and half with organic composted mulch or manure. Fill the hole partway and settle the root ball so that its top is slightly below the garden surface. Fill and water well. When the soil has settled and the water drained, add more soil, if necessary. Spread a 2-inch layer of mulch over the root zone 3 inches out from the plant's base.

Container-Growing

• Miniatures are successful container plants. Roomy containers provide a layer of insulating soil around the root zone, keeping plants cooler in summer and warmer through the winter. Plants are less likely to freeze, or to suffer cycles of dehydration-related stress, with a generous, moisture-retentive soil layer. Choose a container with several drainage holes at least twice as big as the rose's nursery pot. Provide a good commercial potting mix, a sunny location and a consistent water and fertilizer supply. Use trailing varieties in hanging baskets and window boxes.

Winter Protection

• Protect miniature rose plants from freezing in cold-winter climates. Potted roses are moved to dark, unheated sheds or garages throughout the winter in severe winter climates, or brought indoors as houseplants. Garden minis are potted and moved indoors. The roses are permanent garden plants in Zone 5 or possibly lower, depending on the variety. Strip the leaves and bank a mound of soil around the rose after the first killing frost in areas of erratic winter temperature shifts.

Fresh-Cut Minis

• Cut garden roses early in the morning. Remove foliage and thorns from garden or florist rose stems below the expected water line. Do not strip the stem's skin. Cut at least 1 inch off each stem end at an angle, with a clean, sharp knife or scissors, before immediately placing in fresh water. Store overnight in a cool, dark room. Change the water daily. The delicate tissues of flower petals do not withstand freezing temperatures.