Science Projects on How Do Flowers Drink

Science projects on how flowers drink water yield beautiful results.

Flowers use a process called transpiration to drink water. They pull the water up through the ground and absorb it through capillaries. Flowers use water to absorb the nutrients they need to grow. Science experiments on how flowers drink water yield interesting and beautiful results. Use experiments to explore the different stages of a flower's life cycle and water absorption.

Grow Flowers from Seeds

Observe the life cycle of flowers by growing them from seeds. Wrap flower seeds in a wet paper towel and put it in a plastic baggie. Try different flower seeds and different amounts of water to determine how much water they need to sprout roots. Make notes throughout the process on the differing results. Once the seeds have sprouted, transfer them to a small pot, keeping the different flowers in different pots. Continue to experiment with water amounts and record your results.

Temperature Differences and Water Absorption

Determine if the temperature of water aids in absorption by the flower with this simple experiment. Use full grown flowers and cut the stems. Place each flower in a different jar and add the same amount of water in different temperatures to each jar. Record the temperature of the water and the amount of water in each jar. Marking the jar will help you to visualize how much water each flower drinks. Use the same species of flower for this experiment in the differing temperatures.

Food Coloring and Water

Dyeing flower petals different colors makes a beautiful science project with visual results. Place white daisies or carnations in a jar. Mix a couple drops of food coloring in water and add to the jar. The food coloring will change the color of the petals. Cut the stem of the flower down the middle and add each side to a different color to see how the water travels up the flower and the different results you can get with different colors.

Flower Dissection

By dissecting flowers, you can see what each part of the flower is and how the flower works. Take apart the flower and label each part. Cut the stem down the middle and examine how the flower drinks water through it. Dissect the dyed flowers to see if the dye penetrates the capillaries in the stem. Display your dissected to round out your experiment.

References

• "Biology Volume 3: The Dynamic Science"; Peter J. Russell, et al.; 2008
• Kidzone: Colored Carnations
• "Handbook of Nature Study";Anna Botsford Comstock; 1967

Resources

• "Teacher Information Desert Discovery Class"; Flower Dissection; United States Forest Service; 2000
• Education.com: Are Cut Flowers Stronger in Warm or Cold Water?