What if you took all the beauty and color of a rose and shrunk it down to size? You'd have a miniature rose. These micro roses are identical to regular roses, only smaller. Miniature roses might not measure up in size, but they're actually true roses bred into a smaller version: like a miniature pony. But miniature roses weren't created in a lab or a florist shop. They are actually a natural variety of roses that was discovered in Switzerland in the early twentieth century. But don't let their small stature fool you, these roses are just as tough as their larger versions, and also as easy to grow. Intrigued? Read on to learn all about miniature roses.

Like their larger counter-parts, miniature roses come in several different varieties. There are climbing miniature roses to cover surfaces and walls. Hanging basket miniature roses have a cane short enough to grow in a basket, and vines that will spill out the side for extra bloom. You may wonder why gardeners would want a miniature rose. They are great for indoor rose gardens (especially for apartment dwellers, or anyone with limited space). They are also a great addition to outdoor gardens. They can fill in spots, be planted in hanging beds, potted, or in window ledges. In fact, the first miniature rose ever discovered was growing in a window box.

Despite their similar appearances, there are some differences in the ways that you will need to care for your miniature roses. One of the greatest things about these rose plants, is they require a lot less space than regular sized roses. Miniature roses can be planted as closely as twelve inches apart. That's perfect for smaller beds or anywhere else that space is limited. Because these rose plants are small, you will need to be a little more gentle with them. It is recommended that miniature roses be fertilized and fed by liquid. Liquid fertilizers and feeders allow a gardener to pre-measure the amount beign applied to the plant. This leads to greater accuracy and curbs the possibility of damaging the plants with too much chemicals.

One mistake many gardeners make when caring for miniature roses is underestimating the amount of water they require. Although they are small, miniature roses require a liberal amount of moisture to continue growing. It is usually good to make sure that the rose plants receive one to two inches of water per week. If your miniature roses are potted, make sure that the soil they are planted in remains moist (although never muddy). During the summers, you may need to water the miniature rose plants daily to keep up proper growth. Remember though ¨C miniature roses are just as likely to get rose diseases as full size roses, so make sure the petals and leaves stay dry.

Another difference when caring for miniature roses is pruning. You do not want to prune these plants in the same way as larger roses. Miniature roses require more of a trim. This means taking of the top one third of the plant and shaping it in the way that you would like for it to grow. Also, despite their ability to grow in small places, you will want to avoid trying to grow indoor miniature roses in too small of a container. They will not have enough room in a small container to thrive and it will be difficult to get them to grow.

Miniature roses are a great addition to any rose garden. They are also ideal for small spaces or gardeners wanting to use potted flowers. Miniature roses are proof that good things come in small packages.