Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

My son is doing an experiment where is watering a plant with red dye, thinking the plant would turn red. We want to know why is plant is not turning red. Does the water get absorbed by the soil which dilutes it or filters it?

specnut wrote:My son is doing an experiment where is watering a plant with red dye, thinking the plant would turn red. We want to know why is plant is not turning red. Does the water get absorbed by the soil which dilutes it or filters it?

Hi,

In some cases, the roots can filter out the dye molecules. Here's more information about that:
http://homeguides.sfgate.com/effects-fo ... 01292.html

I have read about experiments where this capillary action observed in plants in done with plants not in soil, but instead just in a jar with water. That eliminates the soil variable.
I found this article that may help:
http://www.scientificamerican.com/artic ... ion-plant/

Hope this helps!
Elaine