Pansies in flower arrangement (very trivial thread

I don't really know, Witzend. But, yes, that does happen. I'm going to get some anyway, and keep a close eye on them. .
I've planted out some little nasturtiums which I grew from seed and as yet the slugs haven't found them, luckily.
We have to play bug detective don't we, in order to grow anything.

Don’t vine weevils eat the roots? I always thought it was those little buggers that have attacked my Busy Lizzies more than once - they suddenly wilt very badly and then I find that the roots have been so eaten away that I can just pick up the whole plant from the compost.

I have wondered if it is a vine weevil, but why would they just choose certain flowers and not others? Mysterious...

henetha

P.S. It's the actual flowers that get eaten, not the leaves. Strange!

Sounds like me and the mysterious something that eats just the petals on my shasta daisies.

Hmm...hadn't thought of earwigs but not seen any either. It's NOT slugs although we have loads of them. No slimy evidence.

Yes, I think that's it, - Viola's. Thank you

henetha

P.S. It's the actual flowers that get eaten, not the leaves. Strange!

Any yellow pansies almost always get eaten here, never the others.
Probably earwigs, then.
Slugs invariably go for any petunias here - I’ve literally had them stripped bare overnight. I don’t like using slug killer but sadly it’s the only way. I always tell myself I’ll steer clear of petunias, but was tempted the other day by some particularly attractive ones - splashy purply-blue and white - 3 big pots for a fiver in Asda!

Viola Henetha? I love them too and outside they go on and on, through the winter emerging again in spring ad infinitum.
Lovely smiley flowers.

P.S. It's the actual flowers that get eaten, not the leaves. Strange!

I don't know, lixy but whatever it is they are a darned nuisance as I love pansies, also those little ones of which I forget the name.... It could well be earwigs I expect.
Perhaps I should buy some and keep a close eye on them to see if I can discover what is munching on them.

Great idea, they are so cheery.
Henetha could it be earwigs?

Esspee

I bring a small bunch of mixed garden flowers in to the house regularly, even buttercups and daisies. Pansies and bluebells both, if treated properly, make lovely displays. Bluebells smell delightful. Some pansies do too.
Hygiene is particularly important. Sterilise your scissors and the vase they are going into. Bacteria dramatically shortens their lives as cut flowers.
The Sarah Raven website gives good advice on the basics of arranging cut flowers.

Good advice!

Esspee: talking about wild flowers indoors. I found a trick to keep poppies to last a little. Take your bunch of poppies and fold up the stem sharply a few inches. Then bind them.

I bring a small bunch of mixed garden flowers in to the house regularly, even buttercups and daisies. Pansies and bluebells both, if treated properly, make lovely displays. Bluebells smell delightful. Some pansies do too.
Hygiene is particularly important. Sterilise your scissors and the vase they are going into. Bacteria dramatically shortens their lives as cut flowers.
The Sarah Raven website gives good advice on the basics of arranging cut flowers.

I love pansies but whenever I grow them outside something eats them . I don't think it's slugs, but not sure.

That's a lovely term "such happy flowers"!

I have mine in a pot outside, I love them but never thought of bringing them in!

B9exchange

I have found them to last for a few days in a vase. Did you know you can paint them with egg white, dip them in caster sugar, leave them to dry and then use as cake decorations?

Interesting! They are such happy flowers!

I shall go and bring some in, they are such a cheery flower.

Or just add them to a salad for colour and flavour?

I have found them to last for a few days in a vase. Did you know you can paint them with egg white, dip them in caster sugar, leave them to dry and then use as cake decorations?