Gardening - picky petunias

Ok, so I'm not exactly born with a green thumb, but I try, every now and then. And this year we have the pickiest petunias ever in the boxes hanging from the balcony. They were so fragile when I depotted them that I could barely touch them without stalks coming off, and now there's barely a stalk on each plant that seems to be securely attached. They're mostly lying around looking limp and wan and broken. We have had a strong cold wind recently, but this is a bit ridiculous.

But I've been taking the loose stalks, cleaning off the lower leaves and sticking them in a glass of water inside, and hoo boy, do they like that! I have one "bouquet" that's been standing for almost two weeks and is vigorously and happily blooming, and another one from a couple of days ago that is definitely recovering. They'll be putting down roots if this goes on, and staying for the winter ;) I feel like I've found the ultimate cut flower.

Any ideas on why these petunias are so picky outdoors, but so very hardy indoors? I'm sure we've had these before without any trouble, "Million Bells", they're called, and very common.

Forget the petunias. Plant nasturtiums instead. Pretty and you can eat them.

Heh. I figured they'd been peeking in the window and were jealous of our cat, blissfully sleeping all day indoors in the warmth ;)

For those of you following this fascinating saga of how my balcony plants are doing - an update :D

I clipped all the stalks off the four most miserable ones, and put them in water indoors where they, like their forebears (is that right, just wanted to say that), are blooming blissfully. I now have two fat little bridal bouqets in my kitchen window.

Then replaced them with four new plants, but this time I left the green plastic "cages" on for protection for almost a week until they got acclimatized. Took them off today and they seem a lot sturdier.

And my son is happily planting strawberries all over the back garden, dissecting large roots as he goes. I'm just waiting for the hedge to keel over.

I myself am trying new things to plant this year. I planted green beans. And even though I check them every day, they don't seem to be overly happy. I fed them last week because they were looking a bit yellow and not so green anymore. I want them to grow but not sure what I am doing wrong. Now my lettuce is doing great!!!!!
I am trying to understand how your flowers are doing so well in a glass of water in your house? Are they rooting?
need to start another plant thread so I don't take yours over. ;)