SCIENCE FAIR PROJECT
Clare Cronin and Carolina Perez-Vargas
Roses are Red, Carnations are Blue
Biology
Statement of the Problem
How does the amount of blue food color in the plant water
affect the color of the plants petals?
Project Overview
In our project, we try to figure out how food colorant
affects the color of the flowers’ white petals. We put 12
vases of W, X, Y and Z each with different amount of
blue food colorant increasing each time. We do this to
see if the flowers get more blue as the amount of food
colorant goes up.
Research
• Food coloring cannot evaporate.
• Most plants "drink" water from the ground through their roots
• When a flower is cut and it no longer has its roots, the stem of the flower still
"drinks" up the water and provides it to the flowers and leaves.
• Transpiration and cohesion are the two things that combine to move water
through plants
• Coloring the water with food coloring does not harm the plant in any way.
Variables
• Independent variable: Amount food coloring in the
water.
• Dependent variable: Color of the flower based on a
color scale.
• Constant Variable: Type of flower, cut of flower,
healthiness of flower, amount of water, amount of
sunlight, type of vase/cup, temperature, type of
light
• Control group: Flower with no food coloring in the
water
Hypothesis
• If you add blue food coloring to a plants
water, then the white petals will have
blue in them.
Materials
• 12 carnations (same size and
health)
• 12 vases (same size)
• 96 oz. of water (8 oz. per vase)
• Blue food coloring
Procedure
1.
2.
3.
Get 12 white carnations
Get 12 vases/cups the same size.
Cut the 12 white carnations in a straight angle at 21 cm from the top of the
flower
4. Fill 3 vases with 8 oz. of water and add 0 drops of blue food colorant each
and label them W1, W2 and W3. Put a white carnation in each vase.
5. Fill 3 vases with 8 oz. of water and add 50 drops of blue food colorant each
and label them Z1, Z2 and Z3. Put a white carnation in each vase.
6. Fill 3 vases with 8 oz. of water and add 100 drops of blue food colorant each
and label them X1, X2 and X3. Put a white carnation in each vase.
7. Fill 3 vases with 8 oz. of water and add 200 drops of blue food colorant each
and label them Y1, Y2 and Y3. Put a white carnation in each vase.
8. Put the 12 vases in a spot with the same amount of sunlight and
temperature.
9. Take general observations and record a scale from 0-5 measuring richness
of color (0 being completely blue and 5 being completely blue) for each
flower. Take the observations during 4 days.
10. Make graphs to compare the data.
11. Make a conclusion.
Observations and scale
Plant W-0
Observations and scale
Plant Z-50
Observations and scale
Plant X-100
Observations and scale
Plant Y-200
Graphs
Day 1
1.6
Day 2
3.5
1.4
3
1.2
2.5
1
2
0.8
0.6
1.5
0.4
1
0.2
0.5
0
w-0
z-50
x-100
0
y-200
w-0
Day 3
z-50
x-100
y-200
Day 4
4.5
5
4.5
4
4
3.5
3.5
3
3
2.5
2.5
2
2
1.5
1.5
1
1
0.5
0.5
0
0
w-0
z-50
x-100
y-200
w-0
z-50
x-100
y-200
Conclusion
We concluded that if you put blue food coloring in water the petals
will change to the color of the dye. The more you put in the water,
the more deeper the color will turn out.
Possible Experimental Errors
– Possible Experimental Error could be that our food coloring
was half regular food coloring and half of a stronger food
coloring.
– Another Possible Experimental Error could be that our color
scale got messed up so we had to guess what number it
would be at the end.
Applications and Recommendations
•
•
•
•
•
•
Make sure to get all of the same dye.
Make sure you don’t ruin your scale.
Make sure you have enough dye.
Maybe try different flowers.
Make sure to keep all of your flowers healthy.
Make sure your procedures are detailed.
Works Cited
"Color Changing Carnations at Steve Spangler Science." Science Projects
Experiments, Educational Toys & Science Toys. Web. 11 May 2011.
<http://www.stevespanglerscience.com/experiment/00000144>.
"How Does Water Affect Plant Growth." Gardening Know How - Gardening Is
Easy! Let Us Show You How. Web. 11 May 2011.
<http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/children-in-the-garden/how-doeswater-affect-plant-growth.htm>.
Pot, Justin H. "Why Does Food Coloring Change the Color of Plants? | EHow.com."
EHow | How to Videos, Articles & More - Trusted Advice for the Curious Life |
EHow.com. Web. 11 May 2011. http://www.ehow.com/howdoes_5164204_food-coloring-change-color-plants.html.