My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

How to condition poppies... if you are designing with them in a glass container

There are two methods for conditioning poppies: a flame or boiling water.

I use the boiling water method when I am designing the poppies in a glass container...

Simply pour the water in a heat proof container, give the stem a fresh cut and rest the flowers in the water...

This works for buds, open flowers or seed pods... but lean them to the side to make sure they are away from any steam...

Set it aside to cool in the water... and your poppies are ready to design with.

The second method is over a flame...

Singe the stem end over an open flame

... but the cut poppy stem tip will be black though so make sure to only use this method if it is not going to be seen, for instance in a pottery container.

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Tutorials
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Lean a large pebble in a display container to keep your summer floral details exactly where you want them.
Where to cut Carnations or Pinks to condition
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Where to cut Carnations or Pinks to condition

Cutting carnations to condition
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Placing orchids in test tubes

Cut the Phalaenopsis orchid with a bit of green stem attached. This will make them last longer.
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Cut spiked flower stems and foliage into short sections

Orchids grow in long flower spikes. It is great to use the entire stem but sometimes you need shorter section. There is a trick to cutting the stems without leaving a visible blunt stem.
Condition Epiphyte Orchids
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Condition Epiphyte Orchids

How to condition Orchids to use as plants in an arrangement without placing the roots in a growth medium
Where to cut Tulips to condition
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Where to cut Tulips to condition

Here is a trick to make sure your tulips will condition thoroughly
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