THERE are today many miniatures available for the home garden from mini roses, to mini peace lilies, mini palms, dwarfed chrysanthemums, mini pineapples and mini ixora.
A CLIMBER: Some varieties of mini roses have cascading and vertical growth habits.
It is actually very easy to find interesting miniatures online, such as a mini hydrangea, and have it sent to you the same day within Sarawak or the next day within Malaysia.
Let’s consider a few attractive miniatures this week. Miniatures are ideal for those living in flats or condominiums, or for gardeners who have little space at home.
Mini roses
LIGHT PLEASE: Look for sunny areas in the garden to plant miniature roses.
Miniature roses may have delicate blooms, but they are tough and hardy plants. They are true roses bred to stay small in size and not given dwarfing chemicals or hormones such as those used for dwarfed chrysanthemums.
Mini roses come in various varieties and colours. They are often easier to grow than normal roses and will flower profusely. Ideal for pot planting, they are also relatively easy to maintain and have great disease resistance.
Most mini roses were developed from the Rosa chinensis minima and are petite versions of the Floribunda rose. A majority were created in New Zealand in the last century. In 1993, the American Rose Society award of excellence was given to the Baby Boomer for its white and pink fragrant flowers. Sequoia Gold and Jeanne Lajole are good for their cascading and vertical growth habits.
We have also come across the micro-mini form – hardly 12 inches tall, with tiny flowers of a maximum one inch. Examples are the Chasin’ Rainbows and Bambino Yellow.
Over the Rainbow is a vigorous mini rose with bi-coloured flowers. The yellow base of each petal lights up the otherwise normal red roses. Pointed tips on the petals contribute to an elf-like appearance of dainty beauty. The plant is upright but branches sufficiently to create a dense little mound of greenery for a good backdrop for the blooms.
Like other mini roses, the charm of this variety belies its toughness with high resistance against diseases. It can be planted with other petite flowers for decorative purposes. It is a versatile plant suitable for outdoor and indoor displays.
Planting tips
WELL-CONTAINED: Mini roses are ideal for pot planting.
Mini roses should be planted in sunny flower beds and used as colourful edging. Container planting in plastic pots also has its own decorative value for ease of mobility.
Potting from polybags can be done by tearing off the bag and removing the root ball with soil medium and re-potting into a bigger container. You can prune back the non-fibrous roots by one third without doing any harm. Fill new potting mix around the root ball. Add in gently but set it firm by pressing down on the medium.
Water gently and thoroughly – wet and settle the medium well so that root contact with the medium is achieved.
For older plants that bear fewer flowers, pinch back the buds so that there is only one bud per branch. This gives the plant greater strength to flower more. Regularly pick off dead heads and prune it back to encourage new shoots and flowers.
Remember to use rich well-drained soil for the potting mix. Add organic materials such as peat moss and compost to improve soil quality. With the roots restricted in a pot, the plant would need regular feeding using a water soluble fertiliser once a fortnight. Watch the dosage as an overdose could actually kill the plant. If you use slow release granules, no further addition of fertiliser is needed over a four- to six-month period.
Bronzed leaves and fine webbing are symptoms of spider mites. These pests like warm and hot dry conditions suitable for rose planting. Misting regularly to cool the atmosphere and planting conditions is a good preventive measure.
Mini palms
The easiest way to introduce greenery indoors in a high rise condominium would be a mini palm in a lightweight plastic pot.
They will also improve the air quality indoors.
Use a well-aerated potting mixture for good drainage. Ensure that it is rich in organic matter or add compost.
Feed miniature palms with a liquid or slow release fertiliser during active growth periods.
Ensure that you choose an area with filtered light.
Water whenever the planting medium dries out. However you should pour away excess water that collects in the saucer to prevent root rot.
Spray water on the fronds to keep them clean.
Do send me an email if you have any questions or comments. Happy gardening.