How many of you buy fresh cut flowers?

CapricornLass

I dont usually buy flowers - although I do succumb to the odd bunch or two of daffodils at this time of year. Otherwise I grow pots of bulbs for in the house (daffodils and hyacinths) and for the garden (minature iris, daffs and tulips, which flower from now until the end of April, and sit on the wall and patio outside my kitchen. In the summer and autumn, I cut flowers from the garden and bring them in, mainly sweet peas dahlias and marigolds, but other flowers from the border as they appear in season. At Christmas, its more leaves, Winter box and Fatsia and evergreens from the hedge as well as holly and ivy. But I'm lucky, I have a big garden by modern standards.

sooty&sweep

Hi

I bought some reduced lilies today & I bought some daffs on friday and my husband bought me some roses for Valentines day. I intend to take some of the daffs into work.
I don't spend fortunes & I don't buy every week but I do like flowers.
I work hard and so feel I'm allowed them as treat.
Jen

medsdemon

Gosh I love cut flowers and pot plants, both green and flowering. I think it makes my house feel loved and cared for and yes they do make me happy when I look at them. It's a treat for me every week or two. My favourite over xmas was the potted hyacinths ( cheap as in Ik:a). The smell was phenomenal.

Pop_Up_Pirate

Caterina wrote: »

Even the UK grown ones (which are the ones I try to get - avoiding the Kenya air freighted ones)? Daffodils?

Perhaps if this is the case I need to dedicate a space in my allotment for flower growing, instead of buying, and make do without in winter.

Re. Poinsettia, my mother manages to keep hers alive from year to year, no idea how she does it, every time i buy one they die within a day!

Also thinking maybe I should rely on plants rather than cut flowers if PUP's statement is correct, I really want to try and conduct an environmentally sustainable lifestyle (within my means and limitations).

EDITED: just read PUP's explanation on UK flowers above and I am now both horrified and saddened because I will never buy flowers again under these conditions, and I love them - as I type my house is full of bunches of flowers that I have bought for DH's birthday.

Next seed order will include a few packets of flower seeds.

The flowers from Kenya are better for the planet overall than UK bought ones, and yes, that factors in the airplane transportation.
It's nice to have flowers from time to time though. I try to get local flowers or grow daffs etc myself.

Pollycat

GwylimT wrote: »

We don't, we have a cat so unless we have a bunch made up its virtually impossible to get a bunch which don't contain a flower that is poisonous to cats.

My friend's cat almost died after getting some lily pollen on his fur and then cleaning himself.

Caterina

I used to grow nasturtiums but they attract black fly, which then spreads everywhere. Pity because I used to love having cut nasturtiums garlands all over the house! Might give them another go. I have dahlias in the front garden, and peonies (only 3 plants), might cut the flowers to bring indoors. Someone told me that dahlia plants thrive when you cut the flowers and make even more.

In winter I will have to make do with indoor bulbs and house plants.

graceygirl

Aldi flowers are great, I also go to Columbia Road flower market in London for the £10 for three HUGE bunches . Have been to the wholesale before but kills me getting up very early.

I've recently ordered some fake flowers with great reviews off Ali express so will let you know if and when I get them and what they are like haha!

katkin

Caterina wrote: »

I used to grow nasturtiums but they attract black fly, which then spreads everywhere. Pity because I used to love having cut nasturtiums garlands all over the house! Might give them another go. I have dahlias in the front garden, and peonies (only 3 plants), might cut the flowers to bring indoors. Someone told me that dahlia plants thrive when you cut the flowers and make even more.

In winter I will have to make do with indoor bulbs and house plants.

I've not had flies on nasturtiums Caterina that's a pity you got them as they are lovely, very informal and they make great additions to salads.

I did accidentally bring little flies indoors one Xmas that I picked mistletoe, holly and Ivy indoors to make swags. That ended up as a year long problem with my houseplants catching it and treating them. We have lots of those on the trees in the wild part of the garden but they as I now know are full of buggies. It's make me wary about bringing things in from that part of the wooded area indoors now. It's trees and wild shrubbery going down a slope to the river, very wild but I've managed to get some bulbs in there that are starting to peek through this year.

My 99p daffodils (uk ones) lasted only 5 days before dying.

Are there any hints and tips to bring wild greenery indoors without bringing the bugs in too? Would a spray of diluted washing up liquid help?

Maiden_Mum

No I don't buy cut flowers. I used to but now consider it a waste of money tbh! OH sometimes buys them for me but I'm not really fussed tbh!

oldtractor

after years of being strapped for cash now the kids have left home I find that I can treat myself to a bunch every now and then. And good old Aldi, excellent flowers,last well and cheap to buy.