Modern roses do not need to go dormant. They bloom year-round in Florida and get stronger year by year.

However, bringing a rose inside for the winter is generally not a good idea. They need 5 hours of direct sun, they don't like the low humidity, and most importantly they will get a terrible case of spider mites that can ruin the plant.

If you have an unheated garage put it in there for winter. I can almost guarantee it will die in the house. Put the pot on some wood blocks to get it off the cement and water it some once a month through the winter. Start taking it outside during the day in the spring when your ground roses start to show new growth. Once the night time temps are staying above freezing you can leave it outside.

A minor quibble for Seil: on cold winter nights, the concrete slab may feel cold to the touch, but it will be warmer than the air in the garage. It stores heat and conducts ground heat. So if you put the pots on blocks to protect them from the slab, that's counter-productive.

Michael...

You have a point, but I have found that if I lift the containers, even an inch from the hardscape ... even the concrete floor of a garage ... I am assured of good drainage.

HonorRose...

No, HTs don't go dormant, but nor do they always need winter protection. As usual, it depends on the rose. As I stated in another post, HTs have the genes for repeat bloom, but with those genes along came the genes that keep the plant from going truly dormant because both of those plant characteristics were bred into roses from roses that, in a sense, were genetically programmed to be evergreen.

I don't know what zone you are in or why you think you need to bring the plants in for winter. Is it winter protection that is your greatest worry, or do you think the plants need to "slow down" for a period in order to be strong vigorous plants ?

Smiles,
Lyn

roseblush1 i'm in zone 6B the reason i wanted to bring the potted roses in is to enjoy blooms through the winter otherwise i have an unheated garage to put them in

the front of my house has 3 big windows which gets 8-9 hours of sun during winter but now i'm having second thoughts...

Seil "I can almost guarantee it will die in the house."

Michaelg "most importantly they will get a terrible case of spider mites that can ruin the plant."

Michaelg "they don't like the low humidity"

it does get pretty dry here during winter so dry gotta put lotion on bottom of my feet otherwise the skin starts to crack but no need for lotion during summer

With that much light, roses will bloom inside, but you will have to fight spider mites. Small pots can be put to the sink and sprayed with water once a week. Big pots will require moving to the shower and spraying wil soap or oil spray. You have to reach the underside of every leaf. Trust me, a mite flareup is inevitable without control measures.

Michael, the blocks are not to keep them warmer. It's to keep them moister. Concrete is very porous and absorbent and will draw any moisture out of the pots. Most roses die of dehydration during the winter even outside.

HonorRose....

As others have said, it's a lot of work to grow roses indoors. Personally, I don't even want to try it ... 'o). I'd rather let the roses rest and let myself rest, too.

Even with a lot of light during your winter months, the quality of the light is different and the plant is genetically programmed to slow down during the winter months. I am not certain that you will get a lot of bloom.

Yes, you can force the roses to bloom during winter, they do it in the florist industry all of the time, but they have a very controlled environment with proper lighting and are set up to handle fungal diseases and spider mite problems.

Good luck with your roses.

Smiles,
Lyn