My Creative Workbook

Christine de Beer - effortless floral craftsman

Reflex Tulip Petals

Tulip petals can be opened or re-flexed to create a fuller bloom

Remove the tulips from water for a half an hour to slightly dehydrate

Gently place your finger on the thicker part of the petal where it is connected to the stem

Pop the petal backwards to open.

If the petal starts to tear, leave it for a few minutes more to dehydrate. This works best on tulips in full bud- about four days old.

Carefully reflex the next petal

And the next

Work your way around the flower

Gently bending each petal open

Take care not to break the petals

Reflexed tulip ready to design with. Set back in water to fully hydrate.

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Tutorials
Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs
11 May 2011
Slow down tulip growth, after the stems have been severed from the bulbs

Tulips continue to grow after being cut. Sometimes when you make a very small design or for competition or bridal work you want to minimize growth. The best way to do this is to divert their energy.
Where to cut Tulips to condition
21 March 2012
Where to cut Tulips to condition

Here is a trick to make sure your tulips will condition thoroughly
Reflexed petal Tulip… with a surprise Orchid flower buddy
23 April 2025
Reflexed petal Tulip… with a surprise Orchid flower buddy

Gently pop the petals of a mature tulip back to open up the flower... to add another flower, of course!
A Reflex Rose Rose Hip… Rose
2 November 2022
A Reflex Rose Rose Hip… Rose

Making a rose even more roselike by enhancing its rosy-ness.
A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.
1 June 2022
A wild "found it this way" thorn and overgrown tulip design with a ribbon tangle instead of a bow.

Glue an overgrown thorn armature to a container to display fully opened tulips
A Double vase, Sticky tape, Reflexed AND Woven Nestled Grass and Tulip Whirl
23 March 2022
A Double vase, Sticky tape, Reflexed AND Woven Nestled Grass and Tulip Whirl

so many techniques rolled into one rather pretty tulip nest. Perfect to celebrate new beginnings: Spring and my book birthday... and my online workshop!
Knot a wool grid for a cozy Tulip and twig armature design
19 January 2022
Knot a wool grid for a cozy Tulip and twig armature design

Bring in some warmth with a tulip design that still hints at winter
Weave a grass Platform for an opening Tulip bud
26 February 2020
Weave a grass Platform for an opening Tulip bud

Tulips continue to grow as they open. This means you not only have to be mindful of their proportions as they are now... but also as they will be once open.
Bubble raft to float flowers
3 January 2012
Bubble raft to float flowers

Flowers naturally float in water. They just don’t always naturally float on water. For that they sometimes need a bit of help.
Related Designs
A Buzzin’
23 April 2025
A Buzzin’

Just like a buzzing bee... give a mature Tulip a Phalaenopsis orchid buddy to keep it company.
bonfire
2 November 2022
bonfire

A final rosy burst of fiery autumn colour.
Found it!
1 June 2022
Found it!

A very secure thorn branch armature to hold overgrown Tulips in place
Chockablock!
23 March 2022
Chockablock!

Luxuriously filled design... filled with flowers... filled with grass. But most fun, for us as designers filled with hidden techniques
Thaw
19 January 2022
Thaw

It's Tulip Season! Perfect for that "it's still winter ... but is that something green I see...?" mood designs.
To top it all off
26 February 2020
To top it all off

This is a great "space-keeper" design. The tulip will continue to grow into the vase height as they open... but until then the grass platform part of the design diverts your attention to fix any issues you might experience with the proportions right now.
Perfect!
22 February 2017
Perfect!

Tulips are so perfect just as they are all that is needed is to simply drape their graceful leaves around the flowers
Well, I'll be
27 January 2016
Well, I'll be

Manipulate fresh willow stems to create a sprouting armature for long tulip stems
One of one of everyone
19 March 2014
One of one of everyone

Float flowers using a bubble wrap raft
A Floral Fable: Mood Design
21 March 2012
A Floral Fable: Mood Design

This is a detailed look at my first Floral Fable demonstration design
Design-time saving tip sheet for a demanding Mother’s Day
28 February 2012
Design-time saving tip sheet for a demanding Mother’s Day

Time Saving Tips and Article in the Canadian Florist Magazine
ANTI-BACTERIAL
8 March 2011
ANTI-BACTERIAL

Waxed fruit and a Hot Glue nest
FLOAT
1 March 2011
FLOAT

Reflex Tulip and Passion Fruit Tendrils in a wax disk
Favourite Flowers
Tulipa
Tulipa

Plaited tulips in my I’ve got my head in the clouds design.