Create multi-colored flowers. Plants need a transport system to move food, water, and minerals around. Two things combine to move water through plants – transpiration and cohesion. Water evaporating from the leaves (transpiration) draws water up the plant’s stem to replace what is lost. This works in the same way as sucking on a straw. Water that evaporates from the leaves “pulls” (cohesion) other water behind it up to fill the space left by the evaporating water.
Ingredients:
- White carnations
- Two colors of food dye
- Plastic cups
- Water
- Scissors (with adult supervision)
STEP 1
Use the scissors to cut the stem of the carnation in half lengthways.
STEP 2
Take two cups and fill them with water. Add a different colored food dye to each cup.
STEP 3
Put the split stems of the carnation into the cups and leave overnight.
STEP 4
The next morning you should find that your flower has changed color.
STEP 5
What do you notice about the petals?
