Perfection, as you know, has no limit. And every time we are convinced of it, looking at magnificent roses, striking both with their splendor, and, on the contrary, with refined, but modest beauty. No matter how many other beautiful flowers breeders bring out, the rose will forever remain the queen among them.
general information
Perhaps not a single plant has so many legends and stories. Rose appeared on Earth a few million years ago, but still, despite its "advanced age", it enjoys constant popularity among flower growers. She was revered in Greece, and in Ancient Persia, and in France, and in the good old England. In Russia, for some time now, the rose was a pagan symbol. Her decorative qualities are sung in songs, treatises, odes are dedicated to her, she is present on the coat of arms of many ancient families.
Rose is the common name for all varieties and species of plants that belong to the rosehip genus and are cultivated by humans. The beauty and luxury of this flower is difficult to overestimate. No wonder he is called the queen of the gardens. In the world there are so many species of this plant. However, many believe that the most exquisite in the family are miniature roses. They were brought to Europe at the end of the nineteenth century. In this article we will tell you what they are, what varieties of miniature roses exist today, as well as share the secrets of growing and caring for them.
Since the dwarf varieties of this amazing flower appeared, they have not gone out of fashion. Yards and balconies, gardens and window sills, flower beds - you can find miniature roses everywhere.
Description
From their larger counterparts, they differ only in size. But for all other characteristics, miniature roses are in no way inferior to ordinary ones. They bloom profusely, have an amazing aroma and are suitable for growing both at home and in the garden. Bushes of dwarf roses are multi-stemmed, groundcover or curly. Their maximum height is 45 cm. Spikes are present on the shoots. The leaves are located on short petioles, they are complex, unpaired. The number of plates in miniature roses varies from five to nine pieces. Leaves, depending on the age of the plant, are colored in various shades. In young roses, they are dark reddish, and in older bushes, green. The flowers of these plants are small. They in diameter reach a maximum of three centimeters, usually terry, cupped, solitary or collected in apical inflorescences.
Miniature roses bloom profusely and continuously, pleasing to the eye almost all summer without stopping.
Appearance story
For the first time, these dwarf flowers were introduced to Europe in 1810 from China. These were miniature tea roses. However, then they were not widely used. The triumphal procession of these flowers began only in 1918, when Dr. Roulette in Switzerland discovered a bush of a dwarf rose. He began to carry out breeding work. And soon, as a result of hard work, the doctor brought out a rose named after him by Roulette. It is she who is considered the founder of almost all modern dwarf varieties.
Spread
Since the end of the nineteenth century, miniature roses began to be used in French gardens for the design of stalls. But over time, for some reason, interest in them disappeared. And only around the twenties of the last century, miniature roses in pots were again grown in huge quantities. Initially, there were only twenty species of these flowers. In Russia, they were present in the imperial botanical garden. Full-scale hybridization of miniature roses began in 1940. It was at this time that the Spanish and Dutch breeders began to use low-growing varieties of other groups in order to obtain new species. And thanks to interspecific selection, a whole series of subspecies was discovered in which the main features of miniature roses were preserved.
But at the same time they had a brighter and more diverse color. In combination with the graceful shape of the flower, this made miniature roses almost perfect.
Variety Overview
Today, this pink family has become quite large. Breeders managed to bring out more than five thousand varieties of dwarf roses. Among them there are varieties that grow equally well both in open ground and indoors - at home. They all differ in bush height and type of leaves, color and shape of buds. Therefore, even the most picky plant grower will be able to choose a suitable variety for cultivation. One of the most popular garden views is Los Angeles. This is the "classic" of its genre. Miniature roses of the Los Angeles variety reach a height of 30-35 cm. Dark green leaves with serrate edges are located on standing flexible stems. These roses bloom profusely, on one bush you can see several flowers of buds, starting with lemon yellow and ending with orange.
Another popular species is the Hummingbird rose. Usually, its bush grows to 20-30 cm. Thanks to small shiny leaves, this rose looks incredibly elegant. Its flowers in diameter reach three centimeters. They are terry and have a yellow or orange hue.
Another interesting view is Jewel's miniature garden roses. The hybrid grows to 45 cm in height. It is considered a great option for use in landscape design. On its stem with rare spikes there are many elongated dark green leaves. The flowers are oval, double, deep dark red.
Among the popular garden varieties, Lavender can also be noted, the flowers of which first have the form of a tea-hybrid rose, but then, when opened, become like a floribunda, as well as Orange Juvel with its salmon-orange, large, dense buds of a noble form that do not fade for a long time . His bush is compact, easy to grow, has a height of up to 30 cm.
Another polyanthus rose - the miniature Morsdag - is well suited for planting curbs in the foreground. It can also be grown as a groundcover. This variety has milky white flowers with an original form: they are almost correctly spherical, similar to an undeveloped peony bud. Bred in 1990 in the Netherlands, the spray rose Lydia captivates with its most delicate pinkish-creamy colors. This is one of the few varieties that does not lose its decorative effect after rain. And the spray rose Lydia is appreciated for its versatility. It can equally well be grown both in a container, and decorate flower beds with it, create borders. But this rose in a pot looks best, creating a festive atmosphere in the room throughout the flowering period. Like all sprays, Lydia lives long enough in a vase in water. Most of all, this variety is loved by florists who decorate them with wedding bouquets.
Rose patio
A garden with flowers always looks beautiful. But it is the rose that makes it chic. To date, a huge number of miniature varieties of this culture have been developed, which differ in height, shape of the bush and flower, and a touch of bud. Quite often in specialized stores there are dwarf roses in pots, which are called "patios". These are small border varieties that are perfect for growing outdoors, and for indoor conditions. Rosa patio is considered a real find when creating an interesting design.
All the flower growers dream of this tiny plant living in a small pot. Its delicate scent and elegant buds will impress everyone who sees its beauty for the first time. And although there is an opinion that the patio rose is difficult to maintain, it does not lose its popularity. Moreover, this is not entirely true. This is not a tropical plant, so the moderation of climatic conditions is not terrible for her.
With the advent of each season, these dwarf roses require some care. In winter, they need a cool mode, in hot time they should be protected from high temperature.
These dwarf roses have several advantages. Firstly, they have a small height (from 5 to 30 cm), and secondly, unlike ground cover varieties, their shoots do not fall down in an arc. Each rose is leafy on the patio; it blooms for a long time, being covered during this period with small, but very fragrant buds of different shades.
Seat selection
These miniature plants prefer sunny areas, although partial shading is well tolerated. This applies to both growing in hot climatic zones and in pots. Miniature roses gratefully accept the shadow in the heat. It should be borne in mind that they do not tolerate close proximity: whether it be large trees, low shrubs or other plants.
The fact is that their roots do not like to "compete" for access to moisture or nutrients. When choosing a place to land should take into account the wind. Therefore, these roses cannot be planted in the aisles between structures. In such places, there are usually strong air currents, sometimes so amplifying that the plant has no chance to survive.
There is another circumstance that should be paid attention to - weeds. Their presence in the ground should be carefully monitored, especially when planting a ground cover variety. After all, after such a rose grows, picking weeds under prickly branches will be very difficult. Therefore, immediately before planting, you should clean the place, paying special attention to such perennial parasites with roots penetrating deep into the ground, such as, for example, a creeping wheatgrass.
The soil
Experienced flower growers who have been growing these amazing plants for more than one year know that they cannot be planted in the same land in which another rose has already grown. Nobody can explain for certain reasons for certain, but the fact that in this case there is a big risk of “tired soil” is a fact. This phenomenon has not been fully studied, but, most likely, it is the result of soil depletion, as well as the presence of microorganisms that have taken root around the root system of the previous rose. All of them are especially dangerous when hit on the lower part of a young plant. And since the consequences of planting in such soil cannot be eliminated, it is better to prevent them. Those who still decide not to change the place are recommended to simply replace the soil layer. To do this, dig a hole 50 x 50 cm and fill it with new soil.
There is practically no ideal soil for miniature roses. The soil must meet only a few requirements: be fertile and retain moisture. And if you provide good drainage and slightly improve the composition, then all types of soil are suitable.
Landing
After choosing a place where miniature roses will not be "drowned out" by other plants, if necessary, improve the soil with organic compost. Then, at this place, you should dig a hole of about the same depth as the container in which the seedling was purchased, but thirty centimeters wider. After that, you need to carefully place the plant in the soil, carefully removing it from the pot and carefully releasing the roots with your fingers. If they go beyond the boundaries of the container, it is better to trim the lump with a knife. Putting the plant in the hole, you should spread the roots throughout the volume. Then you need to fill the pit with soil and carefully compact it. After planting, you need to water the miniature rose well. In general, throughout the growing season, the plant will need a lot of moisture. Watering should be from the base of the bush, avoiding water falling on the foliage. Mulching is an indispensable measure necessary to control the propagation of weeds and preserve the moisture of the earth.
Features of cultivation and care
Miniature roses are unpretentious. However, for good growth and long plentiful flowering, they must be planted in a sheltered from the north winds and well-lit area in the garden. The morning rays of the sun contribute to the evaporation of moisture and prevent the defeat of powdery mildew or rust.
Growing miniature roses involves regular abundant watering during the summer and at least three to four times top dressing. To maintain the right level of humidity, spraying the leaves from the underside helps a lot. Twice a month, both horticultural and potted crops need to be washed to prevent parasite infections. In the warmer months, the room should provide fresh air.
At the end of winter or early spring, you need to slightly cut miniature roses. Up to 1/3 of the shoots should be removed for formation and new growth. Unlike large ones, mini roses do not require intensive pruning.
Top dressing
You need to fertilize miniature roses regularly, using compounds designed specifically for this crop. They must combine nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Before fertilizing, water the plant well.
Indoor dwarf roses can be fed one and a half to two months after transplanting and rooting. As a fertilizer, wood ash is also used. The next time, top dressing should be served after the beginning of the growth of new leaves, and then after abundant flowering.
Advice
It is necessary to stop fertilizing miniature roses a month before the first frost. These small plants often infect garden pests — thrips, whiteflies, spider mites, and chafers. Therefore, you need to periodically inspect the bushes and, if necessary, spray vinegar or soap solution on them.