Mini rose houseplant?

I bought this little plant from Morrisons a couple of days ago, for the bargainous price of £2.50. It was just labelled as a 'miniature rose' with no offer of a proper Latin name, and the info on the back said it is a houseplant. I've got it on my kitchen windowsill and it's really lovely.

Is it actually a houseplant? Miniature roses are not something I'm familiar with, will it need any particular fertilising etc? Should I dead head the flowers as they start dying? Is it likely to grow fairly big and need pruning or will it stay miniature?

Thanks in advance! Sorry, I realise that's a lot to ask from just a photo!

 

I've bought a few of these and find, especially at this time of the year, its best to grow on as a house plant and then when it starts to look a bit sad move it to cooler conditions and cut it back.

Then in spring put into a slightly bigger pot and place outside where it will grow as a normal rose, albeit smaller.

 

This sounds like a job for ....

.... @wiseowl

Hopefully he's now tagged and will come to the thread and offer his thoughts

 

I've had loads of them over the years. I can never get them to work though. They always die within a few weeks no matter what I do.

 

I've found they'll carry on flowering for a couple of months if kept in a bright position but not too warm.
Then when they start to die off cut them back and plant outside, either in a container or the open ground and they'll grow away nicely blooming all summer long.

Remember these are just miniature Roses, meant as a temporary houseplant not for permanent indoor use.

 

Oh how rubbish I was really hoping to keep it indoors permanently. My kitchen window is South/South East facing so really bright and sunny.

Is it cold hardy? Or would it need bringing back inside over winter?

Also it doesn't seem to have thorns, will it grow them? I do like roses but never have any because my kids are still at the grab and pull stage of appreciating my plants and there would be lots of bleeding fingers!

@clueless1 that sounds like me and poinsettias!

 

They are just small roses, so yes they are cold hardy, but dont really want putting straight outside at this time of the year.
Keep it on the window sill and see how it goes, but it wont last for ever.

 

Hi Niki,

Your kitchen window sounds good for the next few months

Roses are perfectly hardy so there'll be no need to bring it in next Winter.

As for thorns, it's hard to say wether it will have any or not as it depends on the specific variety/cultivar.

 

If you want a nice flowering plant for indoors pop into your local Lidl. Last week that had Echeveria in at £1.69 a pop. They'll be ideal for this windowsill, not too big and totally trouble free.
https://www.flickr.com/search/?text=echeveria&user_id=35724365@N05&view_all=1

 

Ooh you know I didn't even realise Lidl sold plants, I must check that out, thank you! My husband loves succulents, or anything unusual.