You can just snap the spent flower off. I try not to remove leaves from young plants-- they are needed for growth.

that is interresting about the Dat process you use. I just plop mine in soil and they sprout real fast and nicely. Have not put brugs in darkness so I better not say anything to what to do. Lucy

Kuzariprincess - I just LOVE L.D. Braithwaite. What sumptuous roses!! Divine!! My 4 year old plant is about 2 feet X 2 feet and will grow taller. There are lots of buds on it! Souvenir de la Malmaison overwintered in your garden? Great!! I bought it this year. Really weird that it survived and your Morden didn't! Shazam - 50 buds!!! Wow!! I bought Bonica my first year growing roses and it died overwinter. I'm reluctant to try it again. Although it SHOULD survive winter here. Maybe I just didn't know what I was doing that first year. Janet - I wish we were at the "just enjoy it stage." We still have SOOOO much work to do. Oh well, it's fun! Well - BLANC DOUBLE de COUBERT won my first rose race!!!! Followed the next day by J.P. Connell!!! They both have around 50 buds each. Roses rule!! Carol

The daily temp varies from day to day this time of year Let em get as much air as they can get as long as the day long temp is abouve 40 let em stay out. Cold days Set them on a bench at at least 4 inches high or higher with a foot or two between each pot. Even when it is REAL cold you will still need to water weekly just enough so they don't dry out. Let the leaves stay on as long as they can stay on, keep the area clean as possible of dead, fallen or infected leaves. The air in your barn still might not be enough be on the ready for powdery mildew and cut and treat accordanly you wont need to remove any good looking or newly sprouting leaf(s) Powdery mildew has appreared on me every plant every time Get K-Neem read label and apply accordinly List of things youll need each week include Water Hand Prunner K- Neem ( I know your going to wear a winter coat but why run back and forth in winter right ) If your subject to a " Indian Summer " let em come out and breath take advantage of any warmer day for the breath of air I use 45 or above as a guide even then I have to move em in at night Fertilizing can be done depending on whats already in the pots my typical When I pot ready a rose plant for winter storing I use a cup of bone meal a cup of bloob meal and perlite to a ready compost mixed well then put plant and mixure in pot(S) I found this mixture to do a nice easy vitamin feeding during winter months. Third week of Feb then you can add a small amount of your rose fert * example if the plant calls for one cup per month during growing season use 1/4 I am already looking forward to some pics from you being posted when they blossum