Cut flowers in my new apartment

Hi. I've just moved into a lovely new seaside apartment, which has a full width bay window to the front, over looking the sea. This has a connecting door out onto my balcony.

Try as I might, I just cannot get cut flowers to last. My latest bunch (specifically the Gerbera) lasted only 3 days before petals fell out and stems wilted.

I never leave them in direct sunlight, and usually puit them on the fireplace (a good 12 feet from the window)

Anybody got any ideas, as a the moment I'm wasting over £20 a week !!!

Many thanks,

Stu (Leigh on Sea - UK)

if you are buying them from the market and bringing them home, be certain to trim off a small bit at the ends of each stem. Cut with sharp kitchen scissors or a paring knife at an angle that won't crush the stems. This removes the old cut that could have dried or sealed up, preventing the flowers from drawing up water.

You can also put a few drops of bleach in the water to help the flowers last longer, or I've heard dropping a bit of aspirin in the water may help as well. Also it's possible that the flowers are already getting past their peak when you're buying them which would mean they wouldn't last as long--you might look around and see if there's another place that sells flowers that are a little fresher.

now see I'm bad, because depending on the flower, I would have done all that then dipped em in rooting hormone and potted them up...any chance to have more plants

Thank you all for your suggestions, but I've tried most of this, and I've also tried 3 florists so far !!

Do you think it could be something to do with the sea air ?? Or mabe because it's sometimes a little breezy when the windows are open ?

How close to the sea...could also be affecting the tap water...but yeah it could be the sea air

Err, about 80 yards in a straight line I guess ??

Oh I just noticed where you are from...then my guess would definately be the sea air..all that salt coming in with the breeze does a number on more tender plants and your furniture and curtains over time...I bet its beautiful there right now

Yeah, its great right now (the image was taken during winter !!!). I think it may be a combo of the sea air and the breeze that comes through when you open the windows and doors. Is that likely to affect them ?

with cut flowers I think so...where's moon or Dave when you need them....When My family was stationed over there when I was a kid we use to have that problem...mom always said it was the sea air....said it was a trade off beauty of the sea or beauty of the flowers...If I wasn't landlocked I might consider the sea over the flowers! LOL

Make sure to keep the flowers out of drafts from fan or air conditioning. Change the water daily and trim at least 1/8 inch from the stem when you change the water.

http://www.plantea.com/cutflowers.htm

I've heard that you can dip the stems in rubbling alcohol before you put them in a vase and that helps. By the way, themoonhowl knows.

I had a once tell me to put a few drops of bleach in the vase along with the water, as ecrane mentioned above. That should extend the life of the flowers.