Obviously, your little plants did not have time to establish before last winter, which was exceptionally cold. I would either plant ASAP and probably mulch them heavily this winter or find a way to store them dormant over the winter. I use the root cellar in an unheated basement to store dormant plants because my garage is detached. An attached garage may work also. Just keep an eye on them as I have found roses come out of dormancy pretty easy as the temps increase in the spring.

Next time you might try sticking your cuttings directly into the ground from the start. I've had luck getting rose cuttings through the winter when they've been started directly in the ground. My "holding bed" is in a semi shady area and I keep the plants moist until they have rooted.

Absolutely do NOT keep them inside over the winter. Plant them now and mulch them well. I make a cylinder of chicken wire to go around my more tender roses and new plants, then mound them with a bit of compost and fill the cage with leaves. Works wonderfully! You don't want to mulch like this until the ground starts chilling down considerably however, as in this weather they will cook. In spring just as it's starting to think about thawing remove the cage but leave the leaves. Remove them layer by layer as thawing occurs and the weather warms so you don't shock your rose.

-Marie

I grow my rooted cuttings (small plants) inside under fluorescent lights over the winter. You have to watch for spider mites and, in early spring, aphids. Never lost a one. GaryStPaul