Re-posting from Rose forum by @lovemyhouse suggestion

I've been keeping a pot with few mini roses on my urban (balcony) garden over summer, but now when the climate is turning colder and the first frosts have already fallen, I've moved it inside. My question is quite basic. What should I do with the plants? Should I let them be as they are or sould I cut them and keep in some dark/dry place? I know little this and that about field rose overwintering, but have no knowledge what so ever what to do with ones in a pot. Any advice would be highly appreciated. Thank you.

Hi, Elza. to ATP.

Tough question. I wouldn't think any rose plant would be happy living inside a home for any extended period of time. Your winter conditions appear to be similar to mine, with the exception of snow cover days. If a particular rose plant were special enough to me that I would attempt to keep it over in an apartment-type setting I think I'd try to mimic the trenching style that's sometimes done (in-ground) with marginally hardy varieties. Perhaps bury it in a large, open tub to which drainage holes have been added and then leave the tub on the balcony and hope for the best? I know that I've had rose plants survive a winter this way, but they were in a sheltered area behind a garage that held snow nearly all winter long. Not knowing how your balcony fares in this respect would likely be my most critical question and concern.

I Elza, to ATP.
What are your winter temperatures like? I was wondering why you would bring the container indoors for winter?
I have one of the mini roses in a container and just left it outside over the winter. We get into the upper teens during winter, 16°F (-8.88889 C)

More upon general conditions in here:
Winters are quite long (decent one stars mostly in late November, early December and sometimes drags out till early April). Overall temperature to my guess would be between -10 C and -15 C but can get as low as -25 C (or even -30 C). Snow coverage on my 3rd floor balcony is mostly around 10 cm. I could be able to get good wind coverage there though.

At the moment the plant has been in for a weak or so and is starting to shed leaves, even though a single bud still tries to open up.

For the most par I'm just scared to do more harm by hasty, wrong actions.

I agree with Chelle. It seems it would be best to place the container on the balcony and maybe wrap the container itself with something that would give some protection to the root zone. Then let the snow provide an over all blanket for further insulation.

Elza, Welcome to ATP. Sorry, I don't have any advice on your rose. I just especially wanted to welcome you when I saw your location. Both my parents were from Latvia and emigrated to the United States. So it is especially nice to see members from my heritage country!

Last question then. When (at what average day/night temperatures) should I huddle my plants for wintertime and can I bring them back out for now (this weeks forecast gives the lowest t being 4 C / night and the highest 11 C / day)? For a shame I can not give a specific breed since it was a gift.
Oh and greetings to you Rita. The world is small and we are everywhere ;) If you ever decide to visit, you are all welcome to contact me (and anyone else really as well). I can show you around our National Botanical Garden. It's not the biggest one, but we do have this and that quite interesting.

Sure wish I could take you up on that offer Elza. What a wonderful tour that would be, and to learn about your country first hand.
I think I would put it out at the beginning of a new day. Once you have continually freezing weather I would wrap it.
Does anyone have more/better advice on this?

Thanks Lynn, I shall do just that (cause it indeed seems the most logical and healthy option).

Elza, please keep us updated on your progress. Photos would be most welcome. Like one that shows it's condition before moving it outdoors. As it is coming out of dormancy in the spring. All photos would be welcome.
It is a learning tool for all of us.

If you can put them on a northern exposure that is best as the temps fluctuate the least. If you can get a few bags on leaves they make a good shelter. You are trying to keep the temps as even as possible.

Well this is how it looks at the moment (after being stored indoors for about a week). It has shed around half of it's leaves, rest are ether yellowing or still keeping at dark green. Just after moving in the bud was firmly closed, but now it's on it's way to open. For a shame my only available outdoor storing place faces S/SE, but I should be able to give it a good shade. Actually tomorrow we (my colleges and I) are going to harvest some Sphagnum moss to be used after rose grafting session in February, so I could pick some for my own usage. I think it could work as well.

I would think the moss would work also.
Great advice on the northern exposure Paul.

I answered Greyghost's question on the Rose Forum.

I see some very good advice above.

Here's my two cents

The thread "Overwintering mini rose" in Roses forum

Smiles,
Lyn

Great information Lyn.

Thanks, Lynn.

Smiles,
Lyn

You are so welcome Lyn.

Smiles back to you,
Lynn

I garden in the Yukon. I do grow mini-roses in pots. I have successfully overwintered about 20 for a few winters by bringing them indoors once it turns cold enough to freeze soil. Once the leaves have fallen or are brown and dormancy is approaching I cover the pots with blankets and keep them as close to zero as possible until we get 6 hours daylight again.Roses need sunshine so our low light does not allow them to thrive.I keep the pots moist.I know your conditions are different to mine but this might help?

Veronica ........

Welcome to ATP.

Did you get your minis from Chill Out Roses ? Just curious. We may be growing several of the same plants.

I heat my home with wood, and even tho' I have a very good fireplace insert, the rooms further away from the source of heat are really quite cold. I could probably use your blanket method in those rooms quite effectively.

During the winter, my garage is just not conveniently located to use to store plants. It's on another level down the slope. I overwintered all of my container roses outside the first few years I lived here, but I am in a warmer zone and the way I did it kept the pots from freezing. Now, they are in the ground and I never even have any die back in this garden, so I don't worry about them.

Again, the cool temps and the lack of light is what makes it work.

Smiles,
Lyn

Veronica, to ATP.
Great information for those growing in areas with really harsh winter weather.