Color-Changing Flowers – Capillary Action Science Experiment

There are certain science projects that make you go WOW! This color changing flower activity is one of those! Children learn about capillary action for kids with this amazing, colorful flower experiment. Try this colour changing flower experiment with toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade and 4th garders too. Simply print pdf file with food coloring flower experiment worksheet and you are ready to play and learn with flower science!

Color Changing Flowers

Children will be amazed by the dramatic change they will see in this color changing flowers project! In this flower activity for kids children will be able to try a capilary action experiment that will allow them to visualize that scientific principle in a super cool science experiment for kids. This flower experiment is perfect for toddlers, preschoolers, kindergartners, grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, and grade 4 students. Whether you are a parent looking for a fun summer science, pretty spring science, or simply a flower science for your upcoming botany lesson or flower theme. A teacher planning a color changing flower experiment with free printable color changing flower experiment worksheets. Planning a summer camp and a WOW flower science expermint. Or perhaps you are a homeschooler looking to try the super cool food coloring flower experming with staggering results. No matter the reason, this amazing science experiment is quick, easy, memorable, and oh-so-beautiful!

Color changing flower experiment worksheet

Start by scrolling to the bottom of the post, under the terms of use, and click on the text link that says >> _____ <<. The pdf file will open in a new window for you to save the freebie and print the template.

Capillary Action Experiment

All you need to try this fun flower activity are a few simple materials:

• white carnations – one per color you’d like to try
• water
• food coloring
• container or test tubes

Color Changing Flower Experiment

Trim the bottom of the flower stem to open up fresh veins and make the carnation flower fit in the conatiner of our choice. We used test tubes to feel more like a flower science experiment for kids. Now fill the conatiner almost to the top with really warm water and 20 drops+ of liquid food coloring. The warm water is key to achieving bright, bold colors as molecules in warm water are more active and will spread the water (filled with dye) up the veins in the flower stem to the white flower petals so they change colors.

Flower Experiment

You will see the experiment working by noticing color begin to appear on the petals very quickly.

Flower Science

To see the dramatic change of color you can see in our pictures, you will need about 4 days for the flowers to drink the water in a process called capillary action.

The colors are amazing, aren’t they! Kids of all ages are super impressed by this easy science experiment!

Flower Science Experiment

These cut flowers allow us to see how plants use water they find in the soil up through their stem and move it to the flowers and leaves to keep the plant nourished. Just like people, plants need water to survive. The water travels up tiny tubes, or veins, in the plant by a process called Capillary Action. By placing colored dye in the container, we are able to observe capillary action at work.

Colour Changing Flower Experiment

So, what is capillary action? Capillary action is the ability of a liquid (the colored water in our experiment) to spontaneously flow in up the flower stem without the help of an outside force such as gravity. As we talked about in this walking rainbow experiment – this happens when 3 forces called cohesion, adhesion, and surface tension work together. Water molecules stick together and as one molecule moves up the tubes in the stem, the rest of the molecules play follow the leader and follow up the veins.  The molecules pull each other along like a drawstring.

Food Coloring Flower Experiment

I love it when simple science experiments clearly explain a scientific concept, give kids a WOW that’s so cool moment, and get them excited to keep learning and exploring! These flower activities are perfect for sparking curiousity and having fun with your children.

Put your dyed flowers together to make a lovely, colorful bouquet perfect to brighten up your house, give to grandma, mom, or your favorite teacher!

 

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