My hubby and adult son surprised me with a gorgeous blooming plant for Valentines Day. It was very sweet of them and the flowers are absolutely beautiful, but they have a really strong scent. In fact they STINK something fierce!
I came in the house after work yesterday, smelled something horrible, and there was the Valentine plant sitting my desk. They were all, do you like it? Isn't it pretty?Of course I said yes and gave kisses and hugs.
I've had a sinus & ear infection and been on antibiotics since Monday, my nose is stopped up, but I can smell it anyway. I put the plant way out in the living room, you can still smell it, and the scent turns my stomach. Never been able to stand strong smells or purfumes, so it's not just from being sick.
Just don't know what to do, I love that they went to the store and chose something so pretty to give me. I don't want to be unappreciative or hurt their feelings because they are very precious to me. The thing is I am sure that they would be hurt if I stuck it outside the door or something.
How can something so pretty have such a wretched stench?!? What would you do? Any ideas?
Spray the blossoms wiith hairspray.
It will coat and arrest the fragrance, but the plant itself should be fine. And in the unlikely chance it dies?
Oh. Darn.
If it was me who gave you those flowers, and i find out that their scent is making you feel sick, I would not mind at all if you take them out the house. I would actually feel bad if you dont. Your son and husband care more for you than those flowers, they would not jugde you wrong if you explain the situation.
What is it? Find this info out from a nursery or you florist. Find out if it can be planted outside.
Clip off the flowers and throw them away. Then you'll just have the pretty plant.
Make sure that your sinus infection isn't part of the bad smell you are smelling. Hope you are taking antibiotics! A neti pot would help too!
Get well!!
Dawn
Riley J's got it right......honesty is sometimes the best policy, but not in this case......they will never get you anything again and you'll hurt their feelings. Go for the hairspray route and if it dies.....oh gee.....lol
Like the others, I would either plant it outdoors or tell hubby and son you want to take it to work and have it on your desk so you can enjoy it all day long.
I can't handle the scent of many flowers without getting ill. Roses, oriental lillies, gardenias… sigh. I'm curious what your plant is.
Honesty is probably the best policy in the long run, otherwise you might get the same kind of plant as some future gift. I'd tell my hunnies that I LOVE the gift, AND just can't tolerate the strong scent. Would they mind terribly if I offer it to the old lady down the street who doesn't get many visitors? Then I would have received a loving gift, and so would she!
That word AND in there can really help. If you use it instead of "but," it doesn't immediately undo the nice thing you already said.
Best.
You could thank them for the plant and together plant it in a very special part of your yard far away from any windows lol, somewhere you find special so it can grow bigger, so you can keep it for them, but still have it out of the house.
I forget which plant it is, but we have some lovely flowers out by the pool area. Apparently the previous owners chose them purposely because they deter the bees. And for good reason, they stink! When we first moved in, the kids picked a variety of flowers and made a bouquet. Man did my house stink!!!! LOL
Try the hairspray trick. If not, plant them outside. Good luck!
Hi Bh,
I suggest you plant it outside. Cutting out the pistils and stamens won't work, as the odor comes from essential oils in the petals and leaves. Be aware that the nature of the odor determines what insects will be attracted to the plant as pollinators. In general, if the plant gives off a sweet odor (even if it is wretchedly sickly sweet!) it will attract bees and wasps, while plants that smell like garbage or something rotting will attract flies.
Put on some make-up, hold your breath and have them take several photos of you with the plant, from different angles, take several pictures of the plant on its own, have them developed, frame them and hang them. Tell them again how much you love it and then try to cut out the stamens and pistins (sp?) maybe that would help? I would love to say something about knocking it over when they aren't home, but I really believe that honesty is the BEST policy . . . maybe you have an aunt in on old age home? Give it to a hospital? Take it to work, where you can "appreciate it all day, not just at night" . . . then give it to a co-worker?
One time my neighbor had some flowers delivered, and she wasn't home, so they asked if I would take them. I did, but I didn't realize that they were gone all weekend. These flowers were beautiful, but my allergies couldn't handle them at all. I put the flowers outside until she came back, I had them for two or three days. If my husband and son gave me a plant like that, I would tell them the truth. They would understand, probably be a little sad, but then we would give it to someone else. I really like Peg M.'s suggestion of how to say it. Also, they need to know so that in the future they get something with less fragrance.
Do you know what kind of plant it is? Also, are you sure it is the plant that is stinky, and not something in the soil (just hoping for your sake)
It's hard to know with out knowing the kind of plant, but sould removing the stamen and such help?
