What Plants Will Absorb Dye When Soaked in Colored Water?

Plants

• All plants absorb dye when placed in water with food coloring, but the dye is most visible in plants with white flowers. White carnations and Queen Anne's lace show the dye quickly, although white roses and daisies will also change color slightly.

Method

• Fill a glass or vase with tepid water and add several drops of food coloring. The more dye you add, the more vivid the color. Cut 1 to 2 inches off the base of the stem and place the stem in the water. Check the plant every two hours to monitor changes. Within 6 to 12 hours, the white flowers are dyed.

Cause

• Plants have microscopic pores through which water evaporates, just as humans sweat. As the pores release moisture into the air, the plant draws water up through the roots and stems. Xylem, or small hollow cells stacked end to end, draw the water up into the plant, taking the food coloring with it. The food coloring moves into the petals, causing the color to change.

Considerations

• Experiment further. Cut the stem shorter or longer and record changes, or carefully slit the stem into three sections. Place each section in separate containers containing different colors of dye. The result is a multi-colored plant. Cut the stems open after the plant has changed color. The xylem are clearly outlined by the dye.