A Study on the Effects of White Carnation Flowers in Color Dyed Water

This experiment determined the effect of placing white carnation flowers in color dyed water. The colored water consisted of 1 cup of water and 1⁄2 tsp or 1 tsp of dye. The stems of the flowers were cut with the remain of 6 inches. Two subjects were placed in sunlight or not sunlight and different strengths of dye for 6 hours. It is found that flowers in stronger dye had more color change in petals regardless of lighting.

Plants usually obtain water from the soil they planted in, however, plants absorb water directly from the opening of stem when taken out of dirt. Water movement is the occurrence of adhesion and cohesion, that continues the flow of water in the stem (Vanstone). The process of transpiration in plants is understood as water movement inside of the plant, which is turned into vapor released into the atmosphere. Water is traveled up the stem through tiny tubes known as xylem, that act as veins to provide water for all parts of the plants (Helmenstine). Water evaporates through tiny holes on the petals and leaves called stomates (PBS Kids).

Due the process of translation, I was curious how absorbed substances affect the well being or appearance of a flower. The experiment focuses on the result of transpiration of color dyed water. My hypothesis stated that flowers with the strongest dye water and received light will have the most color because these light is a component that is a essential to keeping a plant alive. I suspected that sunlight will make the flower more vibrant in color because sunlight is necessary for photosynthesis.

In PBS Kids, some students and teachers shared their results and tips for executing this experiment. Stacy from Portage, MI suggested to cut the stem short to see faster results as Brittney, a seventh grade educator, from Talladega, AL advised that carnations are the best flowers for this experiment (PBS Kids). These suggested method and material were taken in consideration when conducting this experiment. Thus, I expected that carnation flowers placed in the strongest amount of dye will have the most color when all stems were cut short and placed in light.

In preparation of each carnation flower, the stems were cut to have a remaining of six inches. The stems were cut at a diagonal angle to have fresh and clear opening. Each vase of dye colored water consisted of 1⁄2 or 1 tsp of dye; red and blue were 1⁄2 tsp as green and yellow were 1 tsp. Blue and green were given sunlight, as yellow and red were not given sunlight. The occurrence and appearance of color was examined every two hours; therefore, the flowers were observed for a total of six hours. The change of color in the white flowers were recorded as the strength of color and location.

The process in which color appeared on the petals of the carnations was fairly quick, yet the color presented very light shade. I noticed that color appeared in the calyx, where the end of the petal meets the ovary and stem, in all of the flowers regardless of light. As time progressed, color emerged on the edges of the petals as trim or outline. Therefore, the stomates of the carnation are located on the edges of the petals. Spotted dots and lines of color appeared in the inner or center petal around the fourth hour; which implicates the presence of stomates. The flowers that did not receive sunlight had frail or bent stems; in contrast, flowers that did receive sunlight had a sturdys stem.

This experiment revealed that flowers had a vibrant change if it absorbed a greater amount of food coloring and sunlight did not play a factor in the appearance of color. The florist, from the local store Flowers for You, that I purchased the carnations from suggested that let the dry out the flowers for at least five hours to dehydrate the stem and cut the stem short to get the best results. Helmenstine advised to let the flowers sit for 24 hours; however, this experiment is meant to observe the speed of color appearance in each flower. This experiment proved my hypothesis correct and demonstrates the process of transpiration.