Wichita gardener’s almanac for Jan. 30

Miniature roses as houseplants — Miniature roses are just that: small versions of roses that can be planted outside and can survive the winter in the ground if they’re mulched, Ward Upham of K-State says. But they can also be pretty houseplants in the winter if you don’t mind giving them the care they need, he writes in this week’s Horticulture 2016 newsletter.

You’ll want the flowers to last a long time, of course, and for that they’ll need humidity of at least 40 percent, though 50 to 60 percent is better, Upham says. You can help achieve that by placing pots on a tray filled with moist pebbles, he says.

They also need lots of light, and while a south window will allow them to survive, a fluorescent lamp will give them more light. Fourteen hours a day under lights placed 3 to 4 inches above the plants is good, Upham writes.

Spider mites can attack indoor roses, but keeping the humidity up and washing the plants once a week in tepid water will help prevent them, he says. If plants do get spider mites, try an insecticidal soap or, probably more effective, a horticultural oil at a 2 percent rate. Spray or wash the entire plant, including the undersides of the leaves, to get all the mites.

You can move the roses outside for the summer, but be gradual, as with all houseplants, about moving them into the light. You can also sink the pots in the ground so you don’t have to water them as often, turning the pot 180 degrees every couple of weeks to break off roots growing into the ground, Upham says.

New garden stamps issued — The Postal Service on Friday issued new Botanical Art Forever stamps that bear vintage illustrations from seed and plant catalogs. There are 10 flower illustrations from catalogs printed from 1891 to 1912. The stamps are 49 cents each.

Garden events

Bird photography talk — Don Tan of the Wichita Area Camera Club will be at Botanica on Wednesday to show his photographs of birds and talk about how to photograph them. The lunchtime lecture, at 12:15, is included in Botanica admission. Lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. for $8.

Dancing class at Botanica — Botanica will offer a group dance class from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Thursday. People can come with a partner or by themselves to learn two line dances — the Electric Slide and the Cupid Shuffle — and two partner dances: the foxtrot (simplified) and the rumba (slow version). Those 21 and over can BYOB, and everyone can bring a favorite snack to share during the break. The cost is $25, $20 for members. Call Mitzie Hall at 316-264-0448, ext. 117, to make reservations.

Annie Calovich

This story was originally published January 28, 2016 at 2:21 PM with the headline "Wichita gardener’s almanac for Jan. 30."