Water Uptake Rates for Different Species of Flowers
Flowers need water, sunlight, and carbon dioxide to make food via photosynthesis. You might be surprised to learn that even after they are cut, flowers continue to take up water. The question for this lab is “after they are cut, do different species of flowers take water up at the same rate as each other?” In this lab, you will investigate to find out.
This lab can be coupled with the lab investigating the transpiration rate for different species of flowers. If you do, put two of the same type of flower in each vase.
From: 9 Fun Science Activities. Click here to find links to the other 8 activities!
Materials for Water Uptake Rates for Different Species of Flowers
- Fresh cut flowers (e.g., roses or daisies)
- Several clear vases or containers
- Water
- Food coloring (optional)
- Measuring cup
Procedure for Water Uptake Rates for Different Species of Flowers
- Use the measuring cup to fill each vase with the same amount of water.
- If desired, add a few drops of food coloring to each vase to make it easier to observe water movement.
- Trim the stems of the flowers at a 45-degree angle under water to ensure a fresh cut.
- Place one flower in each vase.
- Place all the containers in a well-lit area away from direct sunlight, heat sources, or drafts.
- Record the time it takes for each flower to show noticeable changes in water coloration.
- One at a time, pour the water from each vase into a measuring cup. Calculate the difference between the initial amount of water used and the final amount to determine the total amount of water taken up by each flower.
- Compare the absorption rates of different types of flowers and draw conclusions based on your observations.
Check out more articles through the Ask Blair Page on this website. This article was submitted in April 2023 and was not published in the July issue of the SEA Homeschoolers Magazine.
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