Question
Hi there

I have a friend who lives in a flat / apartment.  She adores roses.

The flat is very light and airy and get's the sun in all rooms.

Can you grow a rose in a pot indoors or does it have to be outside?

That may be a silly question but, having no gardening experience, I have no idea!

Kind regards

Jo (UK)

Answer
It is almost impossible to give a typical garden rose ideal growing conditions inside a house. However, although a little indoor rose is  no different from a large garden one and requires the same conditions to grow well, you would have more success with them. For example it likes full sun for at least 6 hours, being well watered and then let dry out before the next watering, a little rose food (for your mini 1 teaspoon of slow release Osmocote 14-14-14 is ideal and lasts 6 months) and above all a damp atmosphere. The dry atmosphere of the house is what usually kills any rose grown inside. Because of the dryness the rose goes under stress and the roots shut down. This is what causes the leaves to die, then go yellow and fall off.
To give a rose the "perfect" conditions I would do the following. Makes sure it is in a bigger pot so the roots aren't cramped one that is about 12 inches across is fine. Cut it back by a half to activate it into new good growth. Mist it daily to simulate outside conditions.
If you are thinking of giving a rose as a gift, try and get one that has the name "Kordana" on the label. This is an excellent series that should do okay following the above instructions.