A rose friend in CA wrote to me yesterday :
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"Just a quick note to let you know that I got my first bloom of Ingrid 
to a show yesterday.  It got a blue ribbon.  This show did not divide 
the minis and the minifloras, and Ingrid is HUGE - the same size or 
larger than Ferrin.  Therefore, the large minifloras did not make it to 
the table.  In any case, it is a beautiful rose and was awarded a blue 
ribbon.

Does it grow that large in your area?  Had you considered the 
possibility of registering it as a floribunda?  In any case, it is 
lovely."
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It grows large here too, but I don't think I want to change it to a Fl.

Last year already, I experimented with 'Ingrid' and did the same as 
with my first mini Rubies'n'Pearls (Ingrid's pollen parent) about 15 
years ago. 'Ingrid's seed parent "Hot Tamale" did not help either as it 
too gets very tall.
Here now my suggestions :
"I will take a larger size stem, and when the bud is about pea size, I 
cut 1 or 2 eyes below 5 leave-lets. Within a week, 2 or 3 new shoots 
come out of the upper eyes and you still get some fairly long stems 
from those for exhibition, as the main stems are SUPER long. Now, you 
don't get a spray but you may still have to do some disbudding. The 
blooms you get now are not as large as when you disbud the main stem.
Of course, if you want to have a nice spray you just brake out the main 
bud as soon as you see it."

I had 5 to 9 bloom sprays before on younger 1 to 2 year old plants as 
you will see in my "Ingrid Gallery" on my site.
Even if it's too late for your spring shows, please try it out and if 
you have a chance let me know how it works. Thank you.
With Nor'East selling about 1500 plants of 'Ingrid' this year to US 
rosarians, 2007 will be the real test for this Mini-flora rose.

Sincerely,
George Mander

http://www3.telus.net/georgemander/

George Mander