Nicolaus Peters is an experienced and well-known florist and floral designer from Germany. Despite several setbacks in his career, he broke through and was crowned World Champion at the Interflora World Cup in 2023. In this article, he shares his story, advice, and the personal signature he brings to each of his creations.
Nicolaus developed a love for nature and flowers from a very young age. His mother owned a flower shop in Berlin, and he dreamed of following in her footsteps.
Since his parents were not initially enthusiastic about him entering the floristry profession, he first trained as a gardener. It didn’t take long for him to realize that he didn’t want to grow flowers, he wanted to create with them. At age 27, he decided to become a florist and completed floristry training. Still, he doesn’t regret his gardening education: it gave him deep insight into how cut flowers are cultivated.
Besides cut flowers, Nicolaus enjoys working with other materials. He immerses himself in one medium and experiments with it intensively. He first worked a lot with wax, then plaster, and is currently in a “paper phase.”
According to Nicolaus, florists should think more freely and dare to experiment. His goal is to inspire fellow professionals, if they’re open to it.
Sustainability is a topic Nicolaus now embraces more than ever. It plays a major role in all his creations. Where he used to rely on zip ties to secure structures, he now avoids them entirely.
Nicolaus applies this sustainability vision to all his work: both for clients and in competitions. His biggest challenge? Sloppiness and difficulties with bureaucracy and structured planning.
What does work for him during those moments? Staying calm and focused. He doesn’t feel stress or pressure. The moment the clock starts, Nicolaus enters his creative bubble. Stress? He simply doesn’t feel it.
That intense focus stems from his training as an Ikebana master. In this Japanese art form, you are given a bowl, a few materials, and one hour to silently create a composition. He completed this training partly in Japan and partly in Berlin.
For Nicolaus, there is nothing more valuable than studying nature. Observing how a flower grows and withers teaches not only an understanding of nature but also a deeper awareness of the need to protect it.
He also believes it’s important to have personal goals, to always do your best and continue to challenge yourself. It’s not about being better than others, but about personal growth.
That’s also his biggest tip for aspiring florists: don’t get discouraged. Many young people think they can create masterpieces from day one, but that’s not how it works. You have to start at the bottom and grow step by step.
Floristry requires patience, and you’ll go through phases where you feel like you’re not making progress. Expecting immediate success is not realistic.
His breakthrough? Speeding up his process. During his floristry training, a teacher saw his potential and gave him a wake-up call.
"I remember a moment when I took half an hour to clean a bunch of tulips. When things got busier, I realized I needed to be faster. Since then, I've learned to work more efficiently and to keep improving."
His current personal growth is taking him in a new direction. After reaching the highest level in floristry—becoming World Champion in 2023: Nicolaus is now exploring a new field: ceramics.
“Ceramics have fascinated me since childhood. Recently, I even bought a ceramic kiln. That’s the next field I want to develop myself in.”
Curious about Nicolaus’ creations or his inspiring journey? Follow him on Instagram for more floral art and personal updates.
