In this experiment, children will learn about how flowers drink – and how by changing the colour of the water they drink, you can change the colour of the flower itself! Plants absorb water and nutrients through their stems and into their leaves.

No carnations or white flowers? No problem! This experiment can also be done using celery stalks or cabbage leaves to “drink” up the different water colours. 

Materials

• Clear containers (a vase, drinking glasses or recycled jars or bottles work great!)
• White flowers (Carnations work the best), or celery stalks, cabbage leaves, etc.
• Food colouring 

Process

• Fill the clear containers halfway with water 
• Add food colouring 
• Snip the base of each flower’s stem slightly to help it drink
• Add flowers to the containers

Tip: Fill several containers with different colours in each to create a variety of colourful flowers. Encourage your child to write down or draw what they observe over one week to see what changes occur day by day.