Question
Hello! I really hope you can help me, as I live in Brazil where mini roses are certainly not native and few people know how to care for them. I bought my mini rose (because it reminded me of home, the U.S. :) at a supermarket nearby that has a garden section. Since Brazil has a whole-year growing season, many non-native species are cultivated here (like lilies and orchids). Usually the buyer just lets it flower and throws it away, but I am trying to keep my plants alive and happy as long as possible. So far it's worked great.

To my question - since I bought it, the upper leaves have been growing and branching out beautifully. I keep it in a sunny window that gots lots of direct light (too much, in some cases, since tropical sun is strong). I water it when it needs it (more often in this dry climate), spray it for humidity, and never let it stand in water. Well, the lower leaves are starting to all turn yellow and fall off! I'm certain it's not overwatering. At first it seemed like the work of spider mites, but I've been spraying an organic spider mite spray for two weeks and the leaves have not improved at all. They just fall off when you touch them. They turn a splotchy yellow and green that sort of evens out into a sickly deep yellow-green. The blooms are beautiful and last a long time (weeks) but they are touched with brown on the tips. (Sunburn?) I really have no idea what could be causing their trouble. Other than that the plant seems happy and healthy. Upper leaves are deep green and glossy. But the plant is looking spindly without its lower leaves. Any ideas? You're my last resort... :) Thank you!

Answer
Mini roses do require the same treatment as a large garden rose bush. They need to be planted in a 12 inch pot with vermiculite or anything that will help the soil drain. I would prune your mini rose right back hard to make it grow healthy new leaves and become bushy. Place some sort of mulch around the base to help keep the roots cool as roses really do well when their roots are cool and just damp. Use a slow release fertilizer such as Osmocote 14-14-14 and sprinkle it all around the base. Then they should be placed in an area that doesn't get any afternoon sun especially as you said it got really hot where you are. They only need 6 hours of full sun or filtered sun all day. Spider mites are nasty little insects because they can hide from sprays. Washing the whole plant off with water until it drips is a good way to discourage them. Just make sure you get under the leaves as that is where the mites live. If you have any other plants in the house they will also have the spider mites as these mites thrive indoors because of the dry atmosphere.  Although you say it isn't overwatering, a mini only needs to be well soaked every 5 or even 8 days and then let it dry out. When rose leaves just drop off at the touch, it is because the roots are not responding and sending nutrients up to the leaves. Sometime minis will even re-act to a spray even though it is organic. Because you plant appears to be healthy, I have no doubt it will bounce back once it has a new pot for the roots. If you are still having problems with the mites, spray your rose and then place it in a plastic bag for a day. The mites won't be able to take off and come back again.