I'm new to roses and gardening in general....Any tips for pruning?

I live in an apartment, so I am limited to patio gardening. I have minature roses in an 8 inch pot, and a 'Victory' rose (med. sized, also in 8 inch pot) both in Miracle Grow potting soil, in full sun watered daily or as needed.





The mini's are doing great, I've had them for weeks now and they look even better than they did when I bought them, no questions there.





The med sized, 'Victory' roses, I have only had for a few days now, they were budding when i bought them and now fully bloomed for the most part. I live in southern california, so frost pruning is not necessary (during the colder months I intend to leave them outside during the day for full sun, and bring them inside at night)





My questions are, when should I prune? And how exactly should it be done?





Also any other tips you think I might need to know.





(Please understand that I am new to gardening in general so if you could explain in detailed lay-man's terms it would be greatly appreciated.)





Thanks

I'm new to roses and gardening in general....Any tips for pruning?
Prune in the winter months, but only prune if they have actually grown too big. When you cut the blooms, use pruning shears or scissors and cut the stem just above the closest cluster of 5 leaves from thee bloom. Clip the blooms as soon as they reach full size, and the roses will bloom all year in S ca. I have blooms from March to November in Atlanta. Have 200 rose bushes and 14 rose trees.
Reply:clip the old flowers off to creat new flowers


look at the little branches below the bud ur cutting.. look for the one with 5 leaves on it cut ,just above that
Reply:don't prune them just snip off the dead flowers. don't over water and feed occasionally with a high potash liquid feed of the type you would use on tomatoes or peppers
Reply:I Love my roses!


As for pruning, clip the dead rose heads at a 45 degree angle. Prune back (again at 45 degrees) the stalks about 1/3 of the way. at the end of the fall.


My suggestion is to get onto the HMF forum... extremely helpful with Loads of photos and information. :O) cheers!
Reply:okay, i'm not an expert, but my mom told me that with roses, you should prune off the dead blooms a few "leaf clumps" down, just above a leaf branch (so there won't be a bare stem sticking out, the leaves will be the "end")





and at the end of their blooming season you should cut them back pretty good, leave one leaf brach per stem i think. i've even cut them all down to just stems when they were getting crazy (not sure when that would be for you, you're further south than i. here in oregon they're about done already, maybe a month more, MAX) this isn't for frost, but it helps them from getting "gangly" %26amp; helps them to be bushy %26amp; full. of course, if you want them to climb at all, then don't cut them way back.





not terribly comprehensive, but i hoped i helped a bit.


:)