Learn

Here is a nice, amusing experiment. Try it in a vase you cannot see into if you want to surprise someone.

At the very least, it will help show how quickly water ingredients travel up a stem into a petal.

• White flowers, such as carnations
• Red or blue food coloring
• A glass vase or jar
• Water

1. Pour water into the vase or glass jar.
2. Now, add a few drops of food coloring.
3. Put the flowers in the colored water.
4. Wait for 6-12 hours and see what has happened to the flowers!

What Happened:

When water evaporates from the petals of the flower, the plant draws water up through the stem. Inside the stem are bundles of vein-like tubes called phloem, which pull the needed water up to the flower. You’ll notice that the dye is pulled up through the phloem in a process called transpiration. How does this effect the petals? The dye helps to illustrate how the flower’s vascular system works.