That would make sense to me if the leaves or petals had fallen off. But actually, it was the stem itself that broke in several places, and it was one long piece of glass. Basically a thick stringer. The leaves and thorns, etc, were all still attached to the broken pieces of stem.
So, I guess I'm asking why the thick stringer I pulled for the stem was so fragile, and how I can make it sturdier when I try again.