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Botany Science Fair Project

White Daisies and Food Coloring

Easy
White Daisies and Food Coloring | Science Fair Projects | STEM Projects
A white daisy can turn blue or red in just 24 hours. Flower stems carry water up from the vase to the petals. When you add food coloring to the water the color travels along with it. You cut three white daisies to the same stem length. One goes in blue water. One goes in red water. One goes in plain water as a control (the one you keep the same). After 24 hours you compare the petal colors and measure how much water each flower used.

Hypothesis

The hypothesis is that the white colored flowers will change color when placed in water with food coloring.

Method & Materials

You will cut the stems of the daisies, measure the water, add different food coloring to each glass with water, and place the daisies in the glasses. To see a change in the flowers' color, check them every 2 hours. You should notice the colors becoming more vivid after 24 hours.
You will need three white daisies, three clear glasses, two different colors of food coloring, a cutting board, a knife, water, a measuring cup, a ruler, a pencil, and paper.

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Results

After 24 hours, the flowers had changed color. The blue flower was a deep blue, the red flower was a bright pink, and the clear flower was a light yellow. The amount of water used by the flowers was also measured, and it was found that the flowers had used up the water in the glasses.

Why do this project?

This science project is interesting because it shows how flowers use water and how they can change color.

Also Consider

Variations to consider include using different types of white flowers such as white roses or carnations, making a rainbow rose by splitting the stem into the number of different colors you'll be soaking the rose into (see video).

Full project details

Additional information and source material for this project are available below.

Related videos

These videos explain the science behind this project and demonstrate key concepts used in the experiment.
Get ready for some floral fun! Watch as these flowers change colors when placed in different colored water. Want to take it to the next level? Try placing the flower in a different colored water every day and see what happens!
Have you ever seen a rainbow rose? These special blooms have several colors on a single rose, and they're made possible by splitting the stem and soaking in different colored water! If you want to learn how to make your own stunning rainbow roses, be sure to check out this video and follow along with the step-by-step instructions.
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