white flower food colouring experiment

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Transpiration Experiment – Colour Changing Flowers

May 7, 2024 By Emma Vanstone 26 Comments

Do you know you can change the colour of white flowers by placing them in a pot of food colouring and water? This easy colour-changing flower science experiment is great for learning about transpiration and transport in plants .

Easy Transpiration Experiment

How to make colour-changing flowers

You’ll need.

White flowers

Food colouring – we’ve found Wilton gel colours work well. Natural food colourings DO NOT work in our experience.

Small jar or vase

Transpiration experiment – instructions

Trim the flowers at the stalks.

Fill a vase or jar with water and add a little food colouring.

Place the flowers in the jar and leave for a few hours.

Usually, you will see the flowers change colour within a few hours.

Extra Transpiration Challenges

Try carefully splitting a stem in half with a sharp knife ( ask an adult to do this )

Place one half of the stem in one colour water and the other in a different colour. After a few hours, you should have a flower two different coloured petals!

What is Transpiration?

The white petals change colour because of something called the transpiration stream . Transpiration is the movement of water up the stem of a plant from root to leaf when water is lost from the plant due to evaporation and diffusion of water from a plant’s surface. Firstly, water is absorbed by the root and moves through root hair cells via the process of osmosis . It then moves into the xylem vessel, which is the tube that carries the water up the stem. Water moves up the xylem vessel by adhesion (being attracted to the side of the vessel) and cohesion (water molecules being attracted to each other).

When water evaporates from the surface of the leaves, the pressure change pulls the column of water upwards to replace the water lost. There’s a constant transpiration stream of water through the plant.

The best way to consider this is to imagine you have a thick milkshake – the straw can’t carry the milkshake up itself, but if you suck from the top, the milkshake is sucked up the straw. It moves in a column because water molecules are attracted to each other.

What affects the speed of transpiration?

The rate of transpiration is affected by environmental factors

Factors affecting transpiration

Transpiration is faster when there’s more sunlight. Stomata ( tiny pores on the surface of a plant ) close when it’s dark as they don’t need to be open when photosynthesis is not happening. Photosynthesis also needs sunlight. When the stomata are closed, water cannot escape from the plant’s surface.

Temperature

Transpiration happens at a faster rate in higher temperatures. In warm weather, water particles evaporate and diffuse through the stomata faster, increasing the transpiration rate.

Air movement around the plant

When airflow around a plant is good, transpiration is faster as the water vapour that has just diffused and evaporated from the leaf is moved away, increasing the concentration gradient between the air and the inside of the leaf. Diffusion is faster when the concentration gradient is more significant.

The effect of increasing airflow on the rate of transpiration can be demonstrated using celery, food colouring, water and a hair dryer!

What food colouring should I use?

We have found that natural food colours don’t work, but these Wilton gel colours work every time.

If you liked this experiment, don’t forget to try my other plant science experiments .

Contains Affiliate Links

Last Updated on May 7, 2024 by Emma Vanstone

Safety Notice

Science Sparks ( Wild Sparks Enterprises Ltd ) are not liable for the actions of activity of any person who uses the information in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources. Science Sparks assume no liability with regard to injuries or damage to property that may occur as a result of using the information and carrying out the practical activities contained in this resource or in any of the suggested further resources.

These activities are designed to be carried out by children working with a parent, guardian or other appropriate adult. The adult involved is fully responsible for ensuring that the activities are carried out safely.

Reader Interactions

September 26, 2011 at 8:55 pm

I did this for my kids this summer. We used daisy’s…it didn’t work. I have done it with carnations before and it worked, but not sure why daisy’s didn’t work!

October 12, 2011 at 9:13 pm

I think the stem structure can vary somewhat and only certain flowers work effectively. Definitely try carnations next time!

September 28, 2011 at 8:50 am

Thanks for the tip! I’m going to try this one out!

September 29, 2011 at 6:12 pm

It is great! x

September 28, 2011 at 1:32 pm

Yet another fabulous experiment to explore with children! I remember always wanting to try this but never getting round to it.. I WILL with my kids! 😉

Thank you for liking to Kids Get Crafty!

Thanks Maggy

September 30, 2011 at 9:47 pm

You have so many great ideas on your blog. I would love if you would link some of them up to my Weekend Wonders blog hop!

October 12, 2011 at 9:18 pm

Is that a Sat or a Sunday? Can you send us the link, as that would be great! Thanks for stopping by, we are so pleased you like it! 🙂

October 01, 2011 at 6:52 am

I don’t know of a child that doesn’t find this utterly fascinating! It’s such a great idea! I have to have a go at this with Little One!

Thank you for linking up to #handmadethursday x

October 12, 2011 at 9:19 pm

Thank you kindly! Let us know if you do have a go! 🙂 x

October 03, 2011 at 9:43 pm

What a great experiment! Will definitely be giving this one a go! Well done girls, another simple but fun experiement my children will love.

Thank you lovely! x

October 04, 2011 at 11:02 am

I love this experiment – it works really well in the spring as well with Daffodiles we always used to have multi coloured daffs in the house in spring.

October 04, 2011 at 12:33 pm

Thank you! We will definitely have a go with daffodils in the spring.

October 06, 2011 at 8:42 pm

thanks so much for sharing on Craft Schooling Sunday!

October 12, 2011 at 9:12 pm

Thank you so much. We will stop by. If you have craft posts yourself come and link to our fun sparks on a Thursday! 🙂

October 12, 2011 at 9:17 pm

We are all linked up so thank you! A beautiful sea or turquoise if ever I saw!

January 02, 2012 at 4:44 pm

I remember doing these as a kid with my grandmother – so fun! Thanks for reminding me to do them with my own kids!

January 02, 2012 at 7:55 pm

oh wow! Thats great. It is a really fab experiment! x

January 09, 2012 at 9:39 pm

How long does it take for you to see the change in color?

January 09, 2012 at 10:54 pm

Usually by the end of the day!

March 12, 2012 at 6:28 am

Wondering…If I dye 6 carnations, seperately, a different color each (like the colors of the rainbow), could I then combine them in one vase of plain water after the petals have changed color?

November 05, 2012 at 1:03 am

Hi I tried this but it didn’t work I used a white flower or should I wait longer.

November 05, 2012 at 8:39 am

Make wait longer, or make your coloured solution stronger. Good luck.

January 30, 2014 at 9:23 pm

This is really interesting – am sure my boys would really love this.

April 17, 2018 at 9:56 am

It is a very colourful science topic and also interesting to play around with it

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Science Project Ideas

Color Changing Flowers

Flowers that change color make an interesting science fair project for kids to understand the method by which plants absorb their food and water from the ground. The magical color change of white flowers is going to leave the young minds awestruck. However, once they know the reason behind it, it will seem to be a normal affair.

Color Changing Flowers Experiment

On immersing the stems of white flowers in food coloring solutions, the petals will be seen to change their color.

• 5 white flowers with long stems without any leaves (carnations, daisies, roses or chrysanthemums work well)
• Food coloring in 5 different colors (You may take red, green, blue, yellow and purple)
• 5 mini containers or jars
• Sharp scissors
• Add half a cup of clean water and 10 drops of food coloring to each jar so that each of them has a different color than the others.
• Cut off the ends of the stems such that about 6 inches of the stems are still left attached to the flowers.
• Place one flower in each jar.
• Leave the jars in a safe place with ample sunlight for about a week.
• Every 3 days, snip off a tiny bit from the ends of the stems to aid in the absorption process of the colored water by the flowers.
• Make your observations at the end of the 1 week period.

You will observe that the white flowers get the color on their petals in which they are dipped. However, there are a few colors like purple that get less absorbed than the other colors like blue and red.

Video on Flowers Changing Color

Why does the color change.

This experiment visually demonstrates how the stems help in carrying water and nutrients from the ground to the higher parts of a plant like the flowers. This “sucking” action is a combination of 2 different physical phenomena. One is transpiration and another is cohesion. Transpiration is the slow evaporation of water from the upper parts of a plant like leaves, flowers and buds. As the upper water molecules are pulled up owing to the above, those molecules that lie further down move up to take their place due to cohesion, that is, the force of attraction between similar particles.

The process resembles the sucking up of a liquid by a straw. Instead of the mouth here we have the sucking action of transpiration. This phenomenon is known as capillary action as the water flows up through narrow tubes or capillaries in the stem called xylem. After the color change, if you split open the stems with a sharp blade, you can observe the colored (originally colorless) tubes running throughout its length. The celery experiment is based on the same principle.

A proper project abstract, method, conclusion and a good research to gather background information are the key ingredients to make this science fair experiment a success. The natural color change is pretty quick and can be seen to start just within an hour of placing the flowers in the food dye.

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Why Do Flowers Change Color in Food Coloring – Experiment for Kids

• July 9, 2019
• 3-4 Year Olds , 5-6 Year Olds , 7-9 Year Olds , Biology , Nature , Popular

You can now change the flower color at home and at any time during the year. Let us understand the science behind this experiment.

How do flowers change color in food colors?   Wondering how? Let’s try this natural science experiment with white roses. 

Who is it for

This experiment can be done with  preschoolers and they will love to make their hands colorful too.  Other kids including Kindergarteners  and  7 – 9-year-old kids  can do this experiment, not just for fun but to learn some science as well. They can change the variables and see the changes in the results.

I tried this with my elder and younger daughter Pritika and Tisha when they were 6 years and 4 years old respectively.

What do you need to change the color of flowers?

• Food color – Liquid or you can mix water to make them liquid.
• Glass bottle or simply water glass . 
• White flowers (in my case – roses). 

We tried this experiment with both white roses and daisy flowers. For some reason, the daisy flower didn’t get the optimum result (we suspect the powder form of food coloring). But I will update on this more once I find out. Check for more white flowers here .

For now, lets see what did we do to make the color change in white roses. 

Steps to follow

Step 1: Select a glass container (bottle or test tube or anything of that sort). Now just add few drops of food color of your choice. We chose Blue but that is completely up to you . 

Step 3: This is an optional step. I cut the stem of the flower with a sharp knife. The cut needs to be in cross of the stem so that the cut part has enough exposed area to absorb water. Just make sure we have enough length to submerse it into the glass of food color. I took care of this step as I am not happy to give sharp knives to kids. If your kid is doing this step, just be attentive and watch over the kids. 

So we decided to sleep and came back in the morning. After 12 hours, the rose flower started showing significant amount of blue color in the petals. We also observed that the edge of the petals had more color than the inner side of it. It was so pretty that my younger one started jumping in joy. 

Absorption of water happens through the xylem and these are tissues present as thin tubes inside the stem. Water is carried to other parts of the plant including flowers through the Xylem. Water travels to the xylem when the molecules in the xylem and the water molecules get attracted. It also happens due to solar energy and transpiration. Transpiration is a process that happens when the sunlight evaporates the water from the stems, leaves, and flowers. The loss in water from these parts will create a vacuum in the xylem tubes top and encourages the water to be absorbed for filling the empty space. Imagine the movement of any liquid when you drink them using a straw. Learn more from here .

Learn about the botanical characteristics of flowers from this page .

Please try this experiment and share your comments.

 For more flower or experiments about nature  check the links given below.

• Borax crystal flowers a new experiment for you to try
• Follow this link and make multi-colored chrysanthemums in blue, white and red. We used a vase swapping idea
• This experiment is a follow up to understand which flower absorbs the most vibrant colors.
• Dyeing bicolor flowers experiment is almost the same as this one but with a twist

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Color Changing Flowers

A color changing flower experiment is a wonderfully simple science experiment you can do any time of the year. Also great for both the Spring season, Valentine’s Day or St Patrick’s Day! Fun kitchen science that is super easy to set up and is perfect for home or in the classroom. We love science activities for all seasons!

Explore Color Changing Flowers For Spring Science

Why not pick up some simple white flowers at the grocery store and pull out the food coloring. This color changing flower science experiment is a STEMy activity (pun intended).

Get ready to add this simple color changing carnations experiment to your spring STEM lesson plans this season.

Let’s get started if you want to learn about how water moves through plants and how the plant’s petals can change color. While you’re at it, make sure to check out these other fun  Spring STEM activities.

Plus, you don’t have just to use carnations, either. Observe capillary action with this walking water experiment, too! Learn all about capillary action with a hands-on science experiment.

Tips For Setting Up Your Experiment

Use a timer.

Although this color-changing flowers science project takes some time to see the results fully, check in on it occasionally and observe the changes in the flowers.

Set a timer every so often and have your kids record any changes over a day! Set it up in the morning and observe the changes at different times.

Apply The Scientific Method

You can turn these color changing flower activities into a science experiment in a couple of ways:

• Compare results using different types of white flowers. Does the type of flower make a difference?
• Keep the type of white flower the same, but try different colors in the water to see if that makes a difference.

Learn more about applying the scientific method for kids and how to choose variables .

Give It A Valentine’s Day or St Patrick’s Day Theme

This experiment is fun and easy for Valentine’s Day science or St Patrick’s Day STEM activities . All you need to do is change out the colors of the food coloring you use. Choose pink for Valentine’s Day and green for a St Patrick’s Day theme.

Color Changing Flower Experiment

• White flowers (experiment with different varieties)
• Vases or mason jars
• Food coloring

Instructions:

STEP 1:   Trim the stems of the white flowers (carnations work really well but these are what our local store had at the time) at an angle under water.

STEP 2: Squirt several drops of each color food into different glasses and fill halfway with water.

STEP 3: Place one flower into each jar of water.

STEP 4: Watch your carnations change color.

The Science of Color Changing Flowers

Turn beautiful white carnations into pink, blue or even green flowers. But how does it work?

The cut flowers take up the colored water through their stem and the water moves from the stem to the flowers and leaves. Water travels up tiny tubes in the plant by a process called capillary action . Putting a colored dye in the water in the vase allows us to observe capillary action at work.

What is capillary action?

Capillary action is the ability of a liquid (our colored water) to flow in narrow spaces (the flower stem) without the help of an outside force, like gravity.

As water evaporates from a plant, it is able to be pull up more water through the plant’s stem. As it does so, it attracts more water to come alongside it. This is called transpiration and cohesion.

Capillary action relies on the cohesive and adhesive properties of water molecules. Water molecules are attracted to each other (cohesion) and to the walls of the capillaries (adhesion). These properties help water move against gravity and through narrow spaces.

Transpiration is the process where water vapor leaves the plant through the leaves. As water evaporates from the leaves, it creates a negative pressure (tension) in the xylem, pulling more water up from the roots.

Helpful Resources To Get You Started

Here are a few resources that will help you introduce science more effectively to your kiddos or students and feel confident yourself when presenting materials. You’ll find helpful free printables throughout.

• Best Science Practices (as it relates to the scientific method)
• Science Vocabulary
• 8 Science Books for Kids
• All About Scientists
• Free Science Worksheets
• Science Supplies List
• Science Tools for Kids

Free Printable Spring STEM Cards

Free spring stem guide and challenge cards.

You’ll also be sent weekly projects to your inbox! We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.

Check out more fun spring science ideas!

Check out our list of plant activities for preschoolers , and plant experiments for elementary . Here’s a few of our favorites…

• Start a Seed Germination Jar
• How Do Leaves Drink?
• How Do Trees Breathe?
• Make Homemade Seed Bombs

Printable Spring Activities Pack

If you’re looking to grab all of the printables in one convenient place plus exclusives with a spring theme, our 300+ page Spring STEM Project Pack is what you need!

Weather, geology, plants, life cycles, and more!

11 Comments

Great ideas. Really useful. Thanks a lot.

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~ projects to try now ~.

Color Changing Flowers Science Experiment

I just love this color changing flowers science experiment ! It is really easy to do and the kids love watching the flowers change color. We think it is the perfect science activity for spring!

I even created printable recording sheets that kids in preschool and early elementary can use to show their observations. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of the post to get them.

Related: Walking Water Science Experiment

Color Changing Flowers Experiment

We love a good science experiment and this one did not disappoint. It was really neat to watch the flowers change colors. If you are looking for a science activity to try this spring, you should definitely give this one a go!

Supplies Needed:

• Free printable recording sheets (button to download at the bottom of this post)
• White carnations
• Liquid food coloring in a variety of colors

Instructions:

• To start you will want to trim down the stems of the flower so they fit your cups or glasses.
• Add water to each cup.
• Then put about 10-15 drops of food coloring in the water and stir around a bit.
• Add at least one carnation to each glass of colored water.
• Check in on the flowers every couple of hours and observe any changes.

Observing the Flowers Change Color

We did this color changing flower experiment in the early evening and we started to see changes within a couple of hours. Some of the flowers started showing faint streaks of color along their petals.

By the next morning, most of them were even more colorful. The flower in the purple water didn’t seem to be taking in much water, so I trimmed the stem a little more and it soon started showing more color in the petals.

The following day the color was even more vibrant.

We continued to watch the flowers over the next few days. They did get a bit brighter than the pics above, but never completely saturated in the color.

Next time, we plan to try even more food coloring to see if we get even more saturated colors. We also decided that we will try roses alongside carnations and see if one takes on the color better than the other.

There are lots of ways you can change-up the experiment. You can try doing several different flowers at once. Or you can try different amounts of food coloring.

How Do Plants Drink Water?

Plants drink water from the ground up through their roots. The water travels up the stem and into the petals of the flower. Although, our flowers didn’t have roots anymore they were still able to pull water up from the cup into the stem and up through the flower to the petals.

It is through capillary action that plants are able to defy gravity and pull water up and into their leaves and flowers.

To read more about capillary action, check out this awesome walking water science experiment !

We hope you’ll give this fun color changing flowers science experiment a try soon!

Science is Fun and Engaging for Kids!

Science experiments help foster curiosity, ignite children’s imagination and help develop a love for learning! It’s a fantastic way for kids to develop problem solving skills, critical thinking and improve fine motor skills while building confidence!

Your kids will have a blast while learning science concepts in the classroom or at home.

Other Fun Science Experiments for Kids

This rainbow  Walking Water Science Experiment  is one of our most popular science activities!

Try this super simple  Oobleck recipe  that only requires two household ingredients!

This rainbow skittles experiment is sure to WOW the kids!

Explore chromatography with this fun  chromatography science experiment  for kids!

This  rain cloud jar science experiment  give children a chance to explore clouds and rain in a hands-on and engaging way

The kids will get a kick out of this super cool  dancing raisins science experiment !

Looking for more fun science? Your kids will love these 30 science experiments !

Science Fun

Dyed Flowers

• 3 White Carnations
• 3 Bottles of Food Coloring in Assorted Colors
• 3 Clear 16 oz Plastic Cups

Instructions:

• Fill each cup with water half way.
• Add 3 drops of food coloring into each of the cups. Each cup should be a different color.
• Carefully cut the end of each of the flower’s stem.
• Place each stem in a different colored water cup.
• Wait one hour and observe your flowers’ petals.
• Wait one day and observe your flowers’ petals.

VIDEO COMING SOON BUT YOU CAN STILL ENJOY THESE AWESOME EXPERIMENTS!

How it Works:

The Xylem of the flower works like an elevator and brings the water from the cup all the way up the plant’s stem and into the plant’s petals. When it brings the dyed water up it ends up dying the plant’s petals. The Xylem is what allows the plant to get water from the roots all the way to the petals.

Extra Experiments:

• What happens if you try doing 5 drops of food coloring instead of 3 drops?
• Keep a picture log of your flower. Take a picture each day, and see how many days does it take for your flower’s petals to look the most saturated in color.
• Try using other types of flowers. Do they work as well? Why do you think we suggested using white flowers?

EXPLORE TONS OF FUN AND EASY SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS!

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Plant Transport: Changing the colour of a flower

Meta Description

Learning Objectives

The main goal of this experiment is to show how plants can take up water from the environment and circulate it throughout the plant.

Stomata These are pores in the leaf that allow gaseous exchange between oxygen and carbon dioxide. The opening and closing of the stomata is under the control of specialized cells called guard cells.

Xylem The vascular tissue is responsible for the conduction of water (and dissolved nutrients) from the roots in the soil to the aerial parts of the plant.

Transpiration The process which allows water to travel up the plant against the action of gravity.

Step 1 Decide what colour you want the flowers to be.

Step 2 Place around 20 drops (or until the water colour is a reasonably strong colour) of food colouring in a jar containing water.

Step 3 Cut the stalk of a white flower such that it fits comfortably in the jar.

Step 4 Leave the flower for a couple of hours or even overnight.

Step 5 Observe the new colour of the flower and the movement of the dye within it.

Be creative and reuse old plastic bottles instead of buying glassware. Don`t forget to recycle them at the end of the experiment!

You might also want to use beakers, test tube or boiling tube instead of a jar.

Make the experiment more fun by placing highlighter fluid in the water to create a magical looking glow in the dark flower.

Using a scalpel, carefully split the stem in two and place each end of the stem in different colours of water. What will happen to the flower?

Be careful when using a scalpel/scissors to cut the stalk of the flower. An adult /demonstrator should preferably cut the flower to prevent any injuries.

Food colouring carries little risk but it does stain so keep tissues close by. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2957945/

Plant sap may be an irritant to some people so if it`s the case try using another plant so that the you can still be able to enjoy this fun experiment. http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/706404_3 , or if you have sensitive skin use disposable gloves.

Transpiration is the process by which plants take up the water present in the soil and move it up the stem until it eventually reaches the leaves. It is here that the water can move out into the atmosphere again through small openings. This is a necessary process since water (together with the sun) is vital for the plant so it can perform photosynthesis, this allows plants to make up their own food.

To visualize this process imagine a relay race involving a baton. The baton represents the water molecules while the athletes represent the different plant organs. The first athlete (the roots) passes the baton to the next one (the stem) which in turn passes it to the next (the leaves). At the end of the race, the baton then is placed back in its container (back into the environment).

What do you think will happen to the colour of the white flower after some hours in the water-containing food colouring? Flower takes up the colour of the food colouring.

Why is the flower taking up the colour of the food colouring? Process of transpiration which causes the coloured water to move up the stem to the petals.

Why do dark spots develop on the flower petals? This is where the stomata are present.

How would you make a multicoloured flower? By putting the plant in one colour of water for a few hours, and then placing the plant in another colour.

What is the structure that water and the dye pass to travel up the plant? Xylem

In this experiment, the plant stem was placed in the water containing the food colouring. After some time the coloured solution was then noted to be taken up by the plant. This is due to a pulling force created by a phenomenon known as transpiration. http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/science/transport-in-flowering-plants-dye-experiment-2-aim-to-find-a-the-tissue-responsible-for-the-transport-of-water-b-the-rate-of-transport-of-water-in-a-leafy-shoot.html

Transpiration is the process by which water first evaporates through the small pores (stomata) present in the leaves and then moves out of the leaf into the atmosphere.

This causes the water molecules to move out of the xylem cells into the inside of the leaf to replace the lost water. This causes a pulling force that is known as capillary action to take place which allows water to move up the plant in a continuous stream.

http://www.science-sparks.com/2016/03/31/transport-in-plants/

In our experiment, the food colouring dissolved in the water is also moved through the plant up the stem and into the leaves through transpiration. When the water evaporates and is removed from the leaf’s stomata, the dye is left behind, resulting in a colour change in the leaves.

Transpiration is the process which allows water to travel up the plant against the action of gravity. Water is then lost from the upper parts of the plant by evaporation through the stomata. http://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1092853841&topicorder=6

Water gets absorbed by the roots from the soil (or in the case of our experiment from the stem) and gets transported to the leaves via the xylem. The roots of plants usually have hair like extensions protruding outwards into the soil. This allows for an increase in the surface area available for water absorption. https://passel.unl.edu/pages/informationmodule.php?idinformationmodule=1092853841

The entrance of carbon dioxide in the leaf through the stomatal pore is necessary for the process of photosynthesis which can be represented by the following equation:

6 CO2 + 6 H2O → C6H12O6 + 6 O2 Carbon Dioxide +Water → Glucose + Oxygen

Water evaporates and diffuses out of the leaf’s stomata and into the air. This in turn creates a pulling force, pulling water out of the xylem into the leaf to replace the evaporated water. This forms an unbroken column of water in the xylem vessels of the plant, which moves upwards towards the leaves against the downward force of gravity.

Transpiration also causes the coloured water to travel up into the flower, the water eventually evaporates but the food colouring does not and remains, causing the flower to change coloured.

Applications

An innovative way of producing green energy is via the process of transpiration. This is being done using artificial glass leaves in an effort to combat global warming. This technology uses the air bubbles in the water column to generate an electric current which is then harvested. http://inhabitat.com/fern-power-artificial-glass-leaves-produce-energy-via-transpiration/

Controlling transpiration in a greenhouse allows the air moisture to be controlled. Moisture can present a problem in greenhouses since warm air and the high humidity promotes the growth of pathogenic fungi. This fungi can reduces crop yield. By controlling transpiration levels and improving air circulation within the greenhouse reduced the humidity and can help control the prevalence of these fungal pests. https://ag.umass.edu/greenhouse-floriculture/fact-sheets/reducing-humidity-in-greenhouse

Another use of transpiration was found in Japan in 2016. This research made use of an artificial root systems created to combat the problem of shallow slope instability. Using what is known as transpiration-induced soil suction to enhance the stability of a slope using artificial roots. https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Viroon_Kamchoom/publication/292213007_A_new_artificial_root_system_to_simulate_the_effects_of_transpiration-induced_suction_and_root_reinforcement/links/56c15e1308aee5caccf683ee/A-new-artificial-root-system-to-simulate-the-effects-of-transpiration-induced-suction-and-root-reinforcement.pdf

Increase the temperature and observe as to whether the flower uptakes colour at a faster rate.

Check if the experiment would provide the same results if conducted in a very dark area (inside a cabinet for example).

See if exposure to wind would cause the flower to take up the colour faster. This can easily be demonstrated by placing the plant next to an open window.

Investigate other species of plants having white flowers and see if they uptake colour at a faster or perhaps a slower rate.

Preparation: 30mins

Conducting: 2 days

Clean Up: 5mins

Number of People

1 participant

Food colouring Jar Scissors/Scalpel White flower e.g. carnation Water Tape

Contributors

Transport in plants

http://www.nuffieldfoundation.org/practical-biology/investigating-transport-systems-flowering-plant

Transport in flowering plants- Dye Experiment 2. Aim: To find (a) the tissue responsible for the transport of water. (b) the rate of transport of water in a leafy shoot.

http://www.markedbyteachers.com/gcse/science/transport-in-flowering-plants-dye-experiment-2-aim-to-find-a-the-tissue-responsible-for-the-transport-of-water-b-the-rate-of-transport-of-water-in-a-leafy-shoot.html

TRANSPORT IN PLANTS – CAPILLARY ACTION

https://www.science-sparks.com/transport-in-plants/

DYED FLOWERS SCIENCE EXPERIMENT

https://theimaginationtree.com/dyed-flowers-science-experiment/

Staining Science: Capillary Action of Dyed Water in Plants

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/bring-science-home-capillary-action-plant/

Colored flowers | Color changing flower experiment | Science experiments for kids | Elearnin

The Color-Changing Celery Experiment!

Science – Transportation in plants -xylem, phloem, transpiration pull – English

Additional Content

Attracting pollinators (Beginner)

How Plants Can Change Our Climate (Intermediate)

>LEAF POWER: Artificial Glass Leaves Produce Energy via Transpiration (Expert)

Cite this Experiment

Aquilina, M. C., & Styles, C. (2020, May 04). Plant Transport: Changing the colour of a flower. Retrieved from http://steamexperiments.com/experiment/plant-transport-changing-the-colour-of-a-flower/

First published: May 4, 2020 Last modified: April 22, 2022

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Food Colouring and Flower Experiment

This is an easy and effective science experiment for kids that demonstrates how water moves through a plant. After adding food colouring to the water of a white flower, watch it slowly change colour. 

For this experiment:

• You will need white flowers (any kind will do), different food colourings and the same number of small cups/vases as colours. 
• Separate the flowers into individual cups/vases with the same amount of water in each. 
• Predict (or hypothesize) what will happen to the flowers once the colouring is added. 
• Add a few drops of different food colourings into each vase. 
• Wait and check back at regular intervals – what can be observed each time?
• Leave the flowers for a few days and discuss the results. Which colour produced the most dramatic difference in the flower? If the same amount of dye was used in each vase, why are the results different for each flower?

Explore our planet through this simple craft using a recycled tennis ball and blue and green playdough to create the globe and continents.

This dancing raisins science experiment is a fun and easy way to explore gases and how they differ from liquids and solids. 

Dr Seuss' Cat in the Hat inspired this STEM challenge - how many hats can balance? This is a great activity to practise fine motor skills.

Explore STEM and the concept of buoyancy with this simple science experiment, all you need are two oranges and a jug of water.

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Rainy Day , Science

How to dye flowers with food colouring

Dye flowers to brighten up your home with a burst of colour.

As the saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. And while it’s hard to improve on mother nature’s colours, you and your kids can dye flowers to add a burst of colour to your home on a rainy weekend.

Dyeing white flowers with food colouring is a quick and fun activity for children of all ages to enjoy. All you need are white flowers and food colouring (and a little patience!).

It’s a simple activity that will keep children entertained. Or turn it into a science experiment to extend the fun and learning.

Dying flowers is a fun project for the kids to do with Dad to make a surprise for Mother’s Day!

Ask your child how do they think flowers get water to drink? The water somehow has to move from the roots up to the flower petals. Let’s try an experiment to find out how that happens.

Let’s get started!

Dye flowers with food colouring

Start to finish time: 15 minutes

Prep time: 5 minutes / Total time: 6 Hours or overnight for best results

What you need:

• White flowers – (I find chrysanthemums work best)
• Food colouring
• Clear cups or glasses
• Kitchen scissors or knife

Step 1: Take out your supplies

• Prepare your work area
• Lay down some newspaper and have a damp cloth handy for easy clean-up!
• Take out flowers, food colouring, clear cups or glasses and trim the stems so they are a good length for your cups.

Step 2: Add food colouring and flowers

• Fill 3 cups 2/3 full with water. Warm water makes it work faster!
• Add a different colour to each cup. Be generous with the amount of colour you add.
• Put one or more flowers in each cup

Step 3: What do you think will happen?

Wait and watch!

The flowers will start changing colour within the hour, with some colours appearing faster than others. The longer the flower stem sits in the coloured water, the more of the dye the flower will absorb as it “drinks” the water.

It may take a few hours for the colour to make its way up to the petals. Leave your dyed flowers overnight for best results!

What do you observe? How does this happen?

The water is being absorbed, or soaked up, by the flower through a process called capillary action . This is how flowers, trees and other plants soak up water from the ground! Because the water is coloured, the petals absorb the colour along with the water.

Can you think of other experiments you can do when you dye flowers?

If you are looking for fun arts and craft ideas, check out the DIY activities on our blog . Or if you are interested in a convenient way for your kids to learn creative thinking at home with your kids in Hong Kong, sign up for ActivityBox !

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How to dye white flowers with food colouring

We’ve had so much fun with simple science experiments at home over the last few months. I’m not sure where the time has gone but I haven’t shared nearly as many as I wanted to. Today I’m going to share a simple science experiment to do with kids at home – how to dye white flower with food colouring. It’s really simple to set up but the results are amazing, perfect for a little science at home.

Colouring white flower with food colouring equipment White flowers A selection of food colours Water Glass jars or containers

How to dye white flower with food colouring

It took us a while to find a bunch of white flowers. Carnations or roses work really well with this experiment and fortunately we found a bunch of white roses at the supermarket.

Choose 3 flowers and cut them so the stem is the same length. Then place your cut white flowers each in its own jar or container and fill with water.

Add 10-20 drops of food colouring to each container of water. We used red, blue and green- dark colours work better!

Then leave the flowers and watch how they absorb the coloured water.

As the water travels through the stem, where does it go? How can you tell?

Water travels up tiny tubes in the plant by a process called Capillary Action. Adding food dye to the water in the container lets us observe capillary action at work. It’s simple but a great way for kids to learn at home.

You may be interested in our other science experiments for kids:

How to make a water compass

Grow your own salt water crystals

Easy Skittles vs Smarties experiment

Related Posts:

Rebecca Smith

This looks like such a fun science experiment! Olivia loves flowers and science so the two together will make her very happy – we shall certainly be giving this a go!

Dissolving Candy Cane experiment - the-gingerbread-house.co.uk

[…] How to dye white flowers with food colouring […]

Grow your own Christmas tree sponge - the-gingerbread-house.co.uk

Activities to celebrate british science week - the-gingerbread-house.co.uk, leave a reply cancel reply.

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Colour Changing Flowers Science Experiment - A fun science project for kids

MORE FUN SCIENCE PROJECTS FOR KIDS

Colour changing flowers science experiement for preschoolers.

Supplies needed for the colour changing flowers science experiment

• White flowers
• Glass jars (we used baby food jars)
• Liquid water colour or food colouring

What are the best flowers to use for the colour changing flower experiment?

How to set up the colour changing flowers experiment 

Step 1: get your supplies ready for the flower experiment and predict what will happen.

STEP 2: Fill glass jars with coloured water

STEP 3: Prepare the flowers

Step 4: place the flowers into the coloured water .

How long does it take to change the colour of a flower with food colouring or liquid watercolour?

The science behind the colour changing flowers science experiment. 

Cool Science Experiments for Preschoolers (and older kids too!)

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Are you looking for fun and creative science ideas to do with the kids? Well, yay! Because that’s what this blog is all about …

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Join us, as we attempt, experiment and stumble our way through fun science at home.

  Thanks for stopping by. We love having you here. Go science kids!

10 Comments

Saved as a favorite, I really like your website!

Thanks Flora!

Keep this going please, great job!

Yeah,I would say the same. Great job!

My name is Erin Marie. I am a fellow blogger. I LOOOOVE your website and use it all of the time with my daughter. So, I nominated you for the Liebster Award.

You can view the nomination post here: https://luckyinluv.com/liebster-award

Thank You! Erin Marie

Thank you for your exciting, educational and easy-to-follow experiments and activities. I help run a boys’ club (ages 7 to 11) and we are always looking for activities which will make their brains work harder while their hands have a bit of fun! I am looking forward to receiving your emails with more of these science activities.

You take experiments from Home Lab App in Google play

I haven’t heard of that app, so no, I haven’t taken any of their experiments. Although, many of them are ‘common’ science experiments that are available in many science textbooks and the like, so there’s likely to be unintentional double up.

is there a way to print the snowflake activity directions without having to print 20 pages? Thanks!

Ah, yes, I’m working on adding an easy ‘print instructions’ feature. sorry it’s not up and running yet, but watch this space!

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Color Changing Flowers Science Project

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you changed the color of water that flowers drank? Well, we did, too.

The experiment involves placing cut flowers in water dyed with different colors and observing the effect on the color of the flowers.

Flowers and plants drink water through their roots.

In cut flowers, since there are no roots, water travels from the cut directly into the stems and travels to the petals and other parts of the plant.

This is how a flower can turn red if it drinks red water or purple if it drinks purple water.

There are three factors that contribute to the transportation of water.

• Capillary action Inside the stem, there are tube-like transport tissue, called xylem , that brings water and nutrient to different parts of the plant.  Water molecules are attracted to the surface of the xylem cells by weak electrical attractions. This sticky property is called adhesion . Water automatically moves up the xylem due to adhesion and the resulting movement is called capillary action ​1​ .
• Cohesion Water molecules are not only attracted to the surface of xylem (adhesion), but they are also attracted to one another. This property is called cohesion . Because of cohesion, water molecules fill the column in the xylem as they move up and act as a continuous stream of water ​2​ .
• Transpiration Water evaporates from the plant through transpiration . As water evaporates in the petals or any part of the plant exposed to air, a negative pressure is created in the xylem, resulting in suction pulling the water upward just like you draw water upward when you suck on a straw ​3​ .

Through these three properties, color water is transported to the petals and the color shows up in the xylem cells on the petals.

White flowers are great for doing this color changing experiment.

They change colors almost overnight. Other types of flowers such as daisies can take a lot longer (more than 10 days).

• white/light-colored flowers such as daisies or white roses
• food coloring
• several glasses, vases or test tubes
• adult supervision

Instructions

• Trim at least half an inch of stem off the flowers before putting each into the glass and each time you change the water.
• Add flower food if it is provided.
• Keep them in a cool place overnight.
• Observe the change in colors in the petals.

• After a few days, the white flowers will change into the colors the flowers were immersed in. 

Did you try this project?

Follow us on Pinterest and share a photo!

Learn More About Water Properties

Science Experiments with Water

• 1. Pickard WF. The ascent of sap in plants. Progress in Biophysics and Molecular Biology . 1981:181-229. doi: 10.1016/0079-6107(82)90023-2
• 2. Steudle E. THECOHESION-TENSIONMECHANISM AND THEACQUISITION OFWATER BYPLANTROOTS. Annu Rev Plant Physiol Plant Mol Biol . June 2001:847-875. doi: 10.1146/annurev.arplant.52.1.847
• 3. Gardner WR, Ehlig CF. The influence of soil water on transpiration by plants. J Geophys Res . October 1963:5719-5724. doi: 10.1029/jz068i020p05719

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Amazing Color Changing Flowers Experiment

Categories STEM Activities

Learn about how plants drink water with capillary action in this super-fun color changing flowers experiment where the flowers burst into a rainbow of color! Kids of all ages will love it! 

Rainbows are totally amazing, and so are flowers. Combine them in this super-fun color-changing flowers science experiment. It’s a fun addition to rainbow science experiments !

Rainbow Flowers Capillary Action Science Experiment

I n this experiment, you can see it happen because the flowers will gradually change color!

But not always like you think. Our flowers changed color at the very tips first!

The Science: Capillary Action for Kids

The reason flowers change color has to do with how they soak up water.

All plants require water to survive, but they drink it from the ground. So, to move it from the ground to the leaves, plants use what is called “capillary action” to move the liquid to the top of the plant.

Basically, this happens by water evaporating in the leaves, causing a pressure change in the stem that helps the liquid from the roots rise to the surface.

Why do flowers change color with food coloring?

Flowers change color with food coloring due to capillary action. Plants take up water through the roots or stem and bring it up to the flower petals. When the water is dyed, the color moves along with the water and dyes white leaves colors!

Why would capillary action be critical for plants to survive?

Water doesn’t usually travel vertically due to gravity. So that means, if there wasn’t capillary action involved, plants could only get water if their roots were directly touching water. That would be almost impossible for plants to do!

If we didn’t have capillary action, plants would have evolved another way to get water. Possibly by being able to move around like animals and humans!

This experiment would also be a fun addition to science experiments for St. Patrick’s Day , spring science experiments, St Patrick’s Day STEM activities and spring STEM activates !

What you’ll need for the rainbow flowers experiment:

• White flowers (carnations are best)
• Liquid food coloring  (we order from Amazon because it can be hard to find the right kind in stores)
• 6 mason jars

How to Do the Capillary Action Experiment with Flowers

Fill each jar with about 6 ounces of water. Place one color of the rainbow in each jar. We used just about a full container of liquid dye in each container to get the colors we did, but we did have too much water to begin with.

Start with about half a container of dye and go from there.

Cut each white flower stem at an angle and place in the water.

Put your flowers in a sunny place, and wait!

What happens when you put white flowers in colored water

Within 3 days you should see distinct colors start to emerge. Keep your flowers in the colored water until they start to wilt for maximum color absorption.

Pro tip: If your flowers don’t appear to be changing color within 3 days or so, you probably are A, using a less-than-ideal type of flower like we were (carnations are best, turns out), or B, didn’t put enough dye in the jars. To get our flowers to change color, we had to use nearly a whole bottle of liquid dye per jar.

The type of dye also matters. We tried gel food coloring first, but it wasn’t strong enough to dye the flowers.

More Rainbow Science for Kids

Fizzing Rainbow Experiment for Toddlers

Rainbow Slime

Walking Rainbow Experiment

Rainbow rice sensory bin

Share this project with a friend!

Laughing Kids Learn

Where learning is made fun

Science experiment with colour changing flowers

September 7, 2015 by Kate 29 Comments

It only required a few materials to set up this science experiment and inspired Possum (aged 3.5 years) to learn more about plants and how they absorb water . 

Recommended age : 3 years +  (Active supervision is required on all my activities) 

The brightly coloured water will transform the white flowers within only a few minutes.

It’s amazing and creates a great ‘WOW’ factor for kids. To do this science activity you will need the following materials – 

• White flowers (chrysanthemums, roses or daisies would work well)
• Small containers or jars
• Food colouring

How to make your flowers change colour

Quite simply, I cut the stem of the flowers so there was about 6 inches of stem remaining before placing one in each of the jars.

I highly recommend ensuring there are no leaves left on the stem as it can go mouldy in the water, which will reduce the time you can keep this activity.   Place your jars in a safe location that will gives them some lovely natural sunlight . We placed our on the kitchen windowsill. 

Making predictions

I wanted the end result to be a surprise to Possum and so I asked her  what she expected to happen to the flowers over time. Some children may benefit from drawing their predictions . It’s also a great idea to do this because children can return to their initial predictions and make comparisons to the actual end result. 

TA DA! 

This is the result of the flowers absorbing the coloured water after one week. All of the flowers absorbed the coloured water and highlighted how it travelled all the way to the tips of the petals to nourish it. Mind blown.

Possum loved watching the changes over the course of the week.  One thing we did observe was that the flower in the purple coloured water didn’t absorb quire as well as the others. Still amazing, but less vibrant in comparison.

Your children can make predictions and record the changes by drawing what they see each day.

It’s a great visual  demonstration of how plants absorb water up their stem to nourish itself. I hope you enjoy this one.

Do you think your child would find this interesting? 

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September 7, 2015 at 1:18 pm

This is so cool! What a fun activity to do with the kids.:)

September 8, 2015 at 10:21 am

Thanks Kat! It was so cool watching the colour appearing through the petals. 🙂

September 8, 2015 at 10:39 pm

Wow these look so colourful and my girls would love to do this activity! We have some white daisies out the front so maybe we’ll try it this week 🙂 Thanks for the inspiration Kate.

September 8, 2015 at 10:59 pm

Daisies would work really well I’m sure! Thanks for commenting Kate. 🙂

September 8, 2015 at 10:45 pm

soooooo pretty – and fascinating! the kids have been asking to do this, so time to rustle up some flowers!

September 8, 2015 at 10:57 pm

They were so gorgeous sitting on our windowsill. Highly recommend this one Kate. Thanks for the comment. 🙂

September 9, 2015 at 2:20 pm

An oldie but a goodie!

September 11, 2015 at 10:25 am

Totally agree Sara. Wish I’d done this one earlier though. So pretty. 🙂

September 9, 2015 at 2:38 pm

Great Science experiment . Thanks to share .

September 10, 2015 at 9:30 pm

I love this timeless activity….the kids are always amazed by the results.

September 11, 2015 at 10:24 am

I could have this experiment sitting on my windowsill all the time! LOL So beautiful. Thanks for commenting Janice! 🙂

September 12, 2015 at 2:31 pm

Superb experiment ! Thanks for shearing this post.

June 25, 2016 at 4:47 pm

Not sure what went wrong but all our flowers died. Some took up a hint of colour but they all just shrivelled up like they didn’t even have water. Just regular daisies, just regular food colouring..

June 25, 2016 at 7:28 pm

Hi Amy, how strange and terribly disappointing! I’ve not heard of that happening, but I guess some flowers just don’t respond to the colouring. If you had the energy to give it another go, I’d double check your glass and water is super clean and possibly buy your flowers from a florist. It’s usually the cheaper white flowers that respond the best. Sorry it didn’t work out for your first attempt. I hope you feel up to trying it again. Let me know how you get on. Best wishes Amy. Thanks for your comment. 🙂

March 30, 2017 at 10:20 pm

I’ve been trying to do this experiment with my class but nothing has worked. Tried different flowers, (carnations and chrysanthemums) different food colouring (colour and brand) different amounts of water to colouring ratio, I’ve tried snipping the stems up the middle too. Nothing going is working. Any ideas where I might be going wrong?

March 31, 2017 at 9:51 am

How very strange Sarah! How long are you leaving the flowers in the water for? I make sure I have there there for a good number of hours, even overnight! That gives the flowers enough time to absorb the water. Are your flowers white? White flowers will show the strongest colour change.

August 29, 2016 at 6:39 pm

Simply sooper…having fun with ma kids…thy loved the most…thnku for giving ths idea…

August 30, 2016 at 3:31 pm

You are more than welcome Malarsree. 🙂

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How to dye flowers with food coloring?

Have you ever wanted to add some vibrant colors to your bouquet or experiment with unique floral arrangements? Dyeing flowers with food coloring is a fun and creative way to achieve just that! With readily available materials and simple steps, you can transform ordinary flowers into vibrant, eye-catching decor pieces. So, let’s dig into the process and learn how to dye flowers with food coloring.

The Process

Dyeing flowers with food coloring is a straightforward process that involves using water, food coloring, and flowers. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get started:

Gather the supplies

To begin, gather the necessary supplies: white flowers (such as carnations or daisies work best), food coloring in your desired colors, glass or plastic containers, and water.

Mix the dye solution

Fill each container with water and add a few drops of food coloring. The more food coloring you add, the darker and more vibrant the color will be. Feel free to experiment with different color combinations to achieve the desired shades.

Trim the stems

Before placing the flowers into the dye solution, trim the ends of the stems at a sharp angle. This will help the flowers absorb the dye more effectively.

Place the flowers in the dye solution

Carefully place the trimmed flower stems into the containers with the colored water. Ensure that each stem is fully submerged in the dye solution.

Wait for the magic to happen

Now, it’s time to exercise some patience. Leave the flowers in the dye solution for at least 24 hours. During this time, the flowers will absorb the colored water, resulting in a beautifully dyed appearance.

Observe and adjust

After 24 hours, check on your flowers to see the extent of dye absorption. If you desire a deeper color, you can leave them in the dye solution for another 12-24 hours.

Rinse the flowers

Once you are satisfied with the color intensity, remove the flowers from the dye solution. Gently rinse the stems under cool water to remove any excess dye. Be careful not to rub or scrub the flowers, as this may damage them.

Display your colorful blooms

Now that your flowers are beautifully dyed, it’s time to arrange them in a vase or incorporate them into your floral designs. Pair them with complementary colors or create an ombre effect by using different shades of the same color for a stunning visual impact.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. can i use any type of flower to dye with food coloring.

While white flowers work best for absorbing the dye, you can experiment with other bloom colors to achieve unique and varied results.

2. Will dyeing the flowers with food coloring harm them?

No, dyeing flowers with food coloring is harmless and safe for most flower varieties. However, it’s important not to ingest dyed flowers, as the food coloring is not intended for consumption.

3. How long should I leave the flowers in the dye solution?

To achieve vibrant colors, leave the flowers in the dye solution for at least 24 hours. If you desire deeper shades, you can extend the soaking time up to 48 hours.

4. Can I mix different colors of food coloring to create new shades?

Absolutely! Experimenting with different color combinations can yield exciting and unique results. Feel free to mix and match food coloring to create your desired shades.

5. Can I dye flowers that are already in a bouquet?

While it’s possible to dye flowers that are already arranged in a bouquet, the dye may not distribute evenly throughout the entire bouquet. It’s best to dye individual flowers or smaller arrangements for more controlled and consistent results.

6. Do I need to add any other substances to the dye solution?

In most cases, you don’t need to add any other substances to the dye solution. However, some people find that adding a small amount of vinegar to the water can help enhance dye absorption.

7. Can I dye flowers using gel or powdered food coloring?

While liquid food coloring is the most commonly used form, you can also experiment with gel or powdered food coloring. Dissolve them in water before adding the flowers to achieve the desired effect.

8. Will the dyed flowers last as long as regular flowers?

Dyed flowers generally have a shorter lifespan compared to regular flowers. However, with proper care and maintenance, they can last anywhere from a few days up to two weeks.

9. Can I dye flowers with natural dyes instead of food coloring?

Certainly! Natural dyes made from fruits, vegetables, or flowers can also be used to dye flowers. They can produce a unique and organic look, perfect for those seeking a more natural touch.

10. Can I change the color of an already dyed flower?

Yes, you can change the color of a flower that has already been dyed. Trim the stems and place them in a different colored dye solution, and over time, the flowers will absorb the new color.

11. Will the dyed flowers stain the water in the vase?

Initially, the dyed flowers may release some color into the water in the vase. To prevent staining, change the water daily or whenever you notice significant discoloration.

12. Can I dye flowers with other liquids besides water?

While water is the most common liquid used to dye flowers, you can experiment with other liquids such as juices, tea, or even colored beverages. Just remember that certain liquids may affect the longevity of the flowers.

About Julie Howell

Julie has over 20 years experience as a writer and over 30 as a passionate home cook; this doesn't include her years at home with her mother, where she thinks she spent more time in the kitchen than out of it. She loves scouring the internet for delicious, simple, heartwarming recipes that make her look like a MasterChef winner. Her other culinary mission in life is to convince her family and friends that vegetarian dishes are much more than a basic salad. She lives with her husband, Dave, and their two sons in Alabama.

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The Imagination Tree

Creative play and learning for kids

Dyed Flowers Science Experiment

March 12, 2013 by Anna Ranson

• a few stems of bright, white flowers such as chrysanthemums, gerberas or carnations
• jars filled with water and various shades of liquid or gel food colouring

 She then went back to her original observational drawing and added the colours where they had appeared on the flowers. We talked about comparing the pictures and how they represented the changes we had seen.

 We have stuck this drawing, along with some annotations made by me, into a new scrap book to keep track of our investigations and activities. Cakie is very excited about it and wants to show it to everyone  at the moment!

  What they are learning while they play: science/ knowledge and understanding of the world: performing a simple science experiment, making predictions and observations, understanding the parts of a plant, learning how water moves through a plant, drawing simple conclusions creativity: drawing from observation and noticing changes in appearance

Cakie: 4.6 Pop: 2.11 Bean: 12 mos

March 12, 2013 at 12:58 am

We did this with white tulips this week, it’s lots of fun. Have you tried spliting the stems and putting them in different pots? Our tulips didn’t split well so that part didn’t work out.

March 12, 2013 at 1:08 am

This looks fantastic. I tried to be clever and use some rather tired carnations for this experiment-it didn’t work as either the xylem was full of air or the flowers had just given up! This reminds me to try this again with fresh flowers!

March 12, 2013 at 2:09 am

This flower experiment is very neat with young preschool students. They love seeing the colors: http://www.brennaphillips.com/colored-flowers-update

March 12, 2013 at 7:06 am

oh this is going to be such a fun one to try

March 12, 2013 at 10:20 am

I remember doing this as a child and being amazed! Love Cakie’s Before and After drawings.

March 12, 2013 at 6:32 pm

did you use A LOT of food coloring? We tried this and it didnt work – so disappointing! The only thing I can think of is maybe we didnt add enough food coloring? After 3 days they were slightly changing – but nothing dramatic

March 12, 2013 at 9:59 pm

The nature detective site suggests adding 5 tablespoons of food colouring. We used blue “professional food colouring” about half a teaspoon and it worked great. The regular food colouring I added about a tablespoon (all we had left) and they took a few days to colour.

March 12, 2013 at 11:13 pm

Fab! I’m going to buy some chrysanthemums on the weekend and do it with The Boy next week, thans! This is why you just got my vote in the MADs.

March 13, 2013 at 11:52 am

What an interesting way to teach. I love that drawing of this little kid. Seems like he had understood his lesson very well.

May 15, 2013 at 8:03 pm

oh…….so cooool omg lol

May 15, 2013 at 8:04 pm

August 25, 2013 at 1:36 am

What flowers did you use

[…] Lastly get the kids thinking again with another science experiment – this time Dying Flowers. […]

[…] Source: theimaginationtree.com […]

[…] En uno o dos días obtendremos este resultado: Mientras podemos hacer que los niños dibujen el antes y después, una manera más para que entiendan el proceso y ampliar la actividad Vía The Imagination Tree […]

[…] theimaginationtree.com […]

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Posted on Last updated: October 18, 2021 By: Author Kim

Categories STEM Activities

Colored Flower Experiment: Spring Science for Kids

Colored flower experiment, spring science for kids.

• Ages: Toddler , Preschool , PreK, Kindergarten
• Difficulty: Easy
• Learning: STEM , Capillary Action

Want to learn how to turn white flowers into any color you want? And want to learn a little science while you do it?

Then you have got to try this colored flower science experiment. It is super simple to set up and really wows. Plus your child can learn how plants drink water. Don’t worry, I’ve even included all the definitions you will need for your discussions.

You will love this beautiful science experiment that dyes flowers so easily. It’s a perfect science experiment for preschool, toddler, and even older kids. (Think kindergarten and early elementary kids learning about plants!)

Here is how to do a colored flower experiment.

What's In This Post?

Colored Flower Experiment

Supplies for colored flower experiment, how flowers drink water, capillary action, transpiration, photosynthesis, vascular plants, let’s find your next fun activity, instructions.

This is a simple science experiment, and it will wow your kids. You will need a little patience though. While it comes together quickly there is some down time while the science happens.

You only need a few things for this STEM activity.

• White Flowers (Carnations work really well)
• Food Coloring

That’s really all this activity needs. I know the white flowers aren’t something that I usually have at home, but it’s always nice to have an excuse to buy flowers.

Instructions for you Colored Flower Science Experiment

The set up for this experiment is really easy.

Step 1: Take your white flower and trim it down so you only have a short stem. Trim it on a diagonal.

Step 2: Fill a cup with water and add 10-15 drops of food coloring. (Note: Warm water helps the experiment happen a little faster.)

Step 3: Put your cut flower in the cup with colored water. You can do as many flowers and colors as you like! I suggest doing several, as this is cool to see.

Step 4: Now we wait. Yeah, that’s hard for little ones, but it is worth it. After a couple of hours you will start to see the petals on your flowers change color to match that of the water they are in!

Step 5: You can leave these overnight of even for a few days to see how the colors look and chance. Enjoy!

This is a very safe activity. Be careful when trimming the stems of your flowers and avoid spilling food coloring all over the place. (That’s more of a mess thing than a safety thing, but still a good idea.)

The Science of the Colored Flower Experiment

So how are our flowers changing color without touching the color to the petals themselves?

We know flowers and plants in general need water to survive. But they don’t have mouths to drink like people do. So how do they get their water?

Plants ‘drink’ through their roots. They take in water from the ground and it travels up their stems to the leaves and flowers. There it can be used to help make food for plants. (Plants make food through photosynthesis .)

So is the stem like a straw? Flowers use it to drink water, but stems aren’t quite like the drinking straws we use that are just empty tubes.

The water is sucked up through the straw by capillary action. Vascular plants like carnations and roses have tubes called xylem and phloem that run up and down the stem. Water sticks together through cohesion and surface tension, and this allows it to climb up a stem. This is the capillary action that is taking place.

For our color changing flowers, this is how the colored water travels up the stem and into the white flower petals.

Capillary action brings the colored water up to the flower, but how exactly is that color changing the white flowers? Transpiration is key for this.

Transpiration is the process of evaporation from the petals of a flower or a plant’s leaves. Water travels up the stem to the flowers. The flowers don’t actually need all that water to complete photosynthesis, so the extra evaporates out. The color from the food coloring stays behind in the petals though, and this is how we get the colored petals.

This water loss also creates low pressure in the petals and leaves, which causes the plant to drink up more water through the stem.

You have got to try these fun activities!

Vocabulary To Know

This process gives us the chance to explore some new vocabulary. Remember, it is not super important that your children memorize these definitions and know them perfectly.

A goal is to explain the science of what is happening in this project. But the main goal is really to expose kids to this sort of terminology. It demystifies it later in life and is helpful in growing their language and vocabulary skills.

Here are some definitions to help in your discussions.

Cohesion is a mutual attraction between like molecules that helps them stick together. In this experiment, the water molecules stick together through cohesion and pull themselves up the stems.

Cohesion creates a uniform mixture (like our all water). It is responsible for surface tension.

Adhesion is like cohesion, only it is the mutual attraction between unlike molecules. This is what makes things stick together like tape sticking to a piece of paper.

Adhesion is responsible for creating a meniscus when water is in a cylinder.

Capillary action is when liquids move up a solid through adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.

In our activity the water moves up the stem of a flower because of the capillary action caused by cohesion.

Phloem are tiny tubes in plants that bring food made in the leaves down to the rest of the plant. (It is helpful to compare them to veins and arteries in people.)

Xylem are tiny tubes in plants that help support the plant. They also bring water and nutrients up from the roots to the top parts of the plant. (Again, it is helpful to compare these to veins and arteries in people.)

Photosynthesis is the process of using sunlight to turn water and carbon dioxide into food for a plant. It usually involves chlorophyll and it produces oxygen as a result.

Transpiration is the evaporation of water from leaves and flowers.

Vascular plants are plants that have specialized parts to move water and nutrients through them, like the phloem and xylem. Carnations are vascular plants.

Beautiful Science Experiment for Kids

I think this is a beautiful science experiment. It’s simple to put together, but it really helps kids understand what is going on inside of a plant.

Colored Flower Science Experiment

Make beautiful colored flowers while you learn about how plants drink water!

• White Carnations (roses and daisies work too)
• Scissors or a Knife
• Take your cups and fill them partway with warm water. Add about 15 drops of food coloring to each cup.
• Cut your flower stems down to fit into your cups. Cut the stem on an angle for best results.
• Place a flower in each cup and wait. The flowers will drink the colored water and the flower will change colors!

Darker colors will show up better in the petals.

This is a simple science experiment, but it requires some downtime while the flowers drink. So set it up and go do something else for a bit. Check in on your flowers throughout the day to monitor the changes. (Though you will sometimes see the color change after just a short time!)

This is a pretty safe activity. But make sure there is adult supervision when cutting the flower stems.

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