How to Grow an Indoor Rose Bush

Among gardeners, roses are one of the most popular flowers to grow. Roses have lush bushes filled with beautiful and fragrant blossoms. Rose bushes require certain growing conditions that include a requirement of at least six hours of sunlight daily. Being unable to give your rose bushes six hours of sunlight--if you live in an apartment or in a home with shady conditions, for instance--does not mean you cannot grow roses. You can grow miniature roses in a container indoors. you can also grow tree roses--especially the shorter variety--indoors in containers.

Flower container with saucer

Bleach

Mixing container such as a bucket

Sterile potting soil

Mulch

Peat moss

Trowel

Rose bush

Water

Garden shears

Gardening gloves

Select a container for the rose. The style or shape does not matter, but it needs to be at least 17 inches across and 14 inches deep to allow room for the roots to spread. The container needs to have drainage holes in the bottom, to prevent rose bush root rot.

Clean the flower container, even if it is new. Mix 1 part bleach with 4 parts water in a separate container, such as a bucket. Pour the bleach solution in the flower container and wash the inside of the container. Rinse the container thoroughly with water.

Make a potting mixture by combining equal amounts of sterile potting soil, mulch and peat moss. Fill the flower container half full with the potting mixture. Remove the rose bush from the nursery container and place it in the flower container. Add potting mixture to the flower container until the roots are covered and the bud union--the spot where the rose bush's roots meet the canes--is above the soil level.

Water the potting mixture thoroughly until water runs from the drainage holes. The water might cause the potting mixture to settle, creating intentions in the soil. Add more potting mixture to level it under the rose bush's bud union. Cover the top of the soil with an inch of mulch to help retain soil moisture.

Place the flower container in the sunny location. As the rose grows, it might "reach" toward the sunlight. Rotate the container to help the rose grow upright.

Water the rose every day until it develops red leaves, which is a sign of new growth. Then water once a week, pouring water gently onto the potting mixture until water comes out of the drainage holes.

Deadhead (remove) spent blossoms and faded leaves from the rose bush. Use sharp gardening shears to prevent damaging the rose canes. Throw the rose cuttings into the trash; do not add to the compost.

Flower containers made from plastic are lighter to move.

Plant short mounding flowers, like alyssum, around the base of tree roses.

Wait until the rose bush develops red leaves--which is a sign of new growth--before using fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides or pruning.

Wear gardening gloves to protect your hands from the rose's thorns.