SCI102 Assessment 2Collaborative Scientific Investigation

Can food dye alter the colour of a potted plant’s petals?Sarah Lucas

Content• Introduction

• Background research

• Hypothesis

• Equipment used

• Process

• Data collection method

• Data

• Discussion

• Conclusion

• New questions

Introduction• The art of dying flowers is a simple procedure, performed by

many people from all over the world.

• This process is most commonly used by florists and usually on cut flowers.

• After visiting a friend with a bouquet of dyed Orchards, I found myself wondering if the same could be done to a potted plant. If dye could be used to change the colour of a potted plant’s petals.

Background Research• When I google searched ‘dying flowers with food dye’

hundreds of different web articles and images popped up. Most of these were of cut flowers.

• However my search of scientifically valid articles on the effects of food dye on a potted plant’s petals, was not as successful. Due to a lack of articles on the topic, I decided that I would investigate the results myself.

Background Research

Cut White Roses

Cut White roses after 5 hours in Queens food dye

Hypothesis

If a cut flower could absorb food dye, then I believed that a potted plant should be able to as well.

Equipment used

Process

Because the plants were alive, I decided to give them a mixture of water and dye, to help keep them alive. I labelled each plant with the name of a dye, to ensure that the same plant received the same coloured dye each time. I watered the plants twice a day with a water: dye ratio of 20ml: 1ml. I used a small measuring cup and a 5ml syringe to measure the dye and the water, then I combined the fluids before watering the plants.

Data Collection Method• I decided to use eight different dyes, four natural extract and four

normal, in case different dyes were stronger or had different effects.

• Controls put in place included;

- Pants all being the same species and colour.

- Plants all being of similar size and health.

- Plants receiving the same amount of water, dye and sunlight.

- Plants all being in the same size pots with the same potting mix.

• A photo was taken of each plant every morning and notes were taken of any changes to the plants.

Queen’s Natural Extract Yellow Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

No change in colour of petals, plant started to die on day 4.

Queen’s Natural Extract Purple Food Colouring

No change in colour of petals, plant started to die on day 5.

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Queen’s Natural Extract Green Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4

Day 5 Day 6 Day 7

No change in colour of petals, plant started to die on day 7.

Queen’s Natural Extract Red Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8

No change in colour of petals, ran out of dye on day 8.

Queen’s Green Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Colour appeared on the edge of the petals on day 7, as faint spots. Petals fell off day 10.

Queen’s Blue Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Colour appeared on the edge of the petals on day 5, as faint spots. Petals fell off day 10.

Queen’s Yellow Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Colour appeared around the edges of the petals day 4. Experiment was ended day 10.

Queen’s Pillar Box Red Food Colouring

Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5

Day 6 Day 7 Day 8 Day 9

Colour appeared in patches around the edge of the petals on day 5. Experiment was ended day 10.

Leaves

Day 6

Day 7

Day 8

Day 9

An unexpected side-effect of dying the potted plants was, that 3 of the plants showed a change of colour in their leaves. By day 6 red was showing at the edge of the ‘Queens Pillar Box red food colouring’ plant’s leaves . The ‘Queens’ yellow and blue food colouring also started to show colouring on day 8.

Discussion• The natural extract dyes had no effect on the colour of the potted

plants’ petals.

• Three of the four plants receiving natural extract dyes died, suggesting that something in the natural extract dyes was not allowing the plants to survive.

• All four plants receiving normal dyes showed a change in colour within seven days, these dyes coloured the petals in different patterns and at different rates.

• Three of the four normal dyes also coloured the leaves of their potted plants, the only normal dye that did not change the colour of the leaves of its potted plant was the green dye, which was probably because the leaves were already the same colour as the dye and any absorption would not have been visible.

Conclusion• In conclusion it would seem fair to say that normal dyes can

change the colour of a potted plant’s petals, just as I stated in my hypothesis.

• However the natural extract dyes had no effect on the colour of their plants’ petals, which contradicts my hypothesis.

• Therefore it depends on the type of dye being used, as to whether a plant’s petals will change colour.

New Questions?• Why does the natural extract dye not absorb into the plant’s petals?

Is it because the dye is thicker? Or less potent?

• Why did the natural extract dyes effect the health of their plants? Did this have anything to do with why the colour was not absorbing?

• What would happen if I used a different dye: water ratio? Or if I just used dye?

• Would the results be similar or different on other species of flowers?

• Why did different dyes spread differently? Were the differences in rates of absorption and dye distribution due to the different dyes used or due to differences in the individual flowers.