Celery Water Transport Experiment

How Do Plants Drink Water?

Plants do not have mouths, but they still need water to survive. So how does water travel from the roots all the way up to the leaves? In this experiment, you will use celery and food coloring to see how water moves through a plant.

Materials

• 1 celery stalk with leaves

• A clear cup or jar

• Water

• Food coloring (red or blue works best)

• Knife (adult help recommended)

Experiment Steps

1. Fill the glass

Fill a clear glass with water and add several drops of food coloring. The more pigmented the water, the more vibrant the celery becomes.

2. Prepare the celery

Place the celery stalk into the colored water. If needed, ask an adult to cut a small piece off the bottom so the stalk can absorb water more easily.

3. Wait and observe

Leave the celery in the glass overnight. The longer you leave the celeery in the colored water, the more pigmented the celerey becomes.

4. Look at the leaves and stalk

You should notice the leaves and veins of the celery turning the color of the dye.

The Science Behind the Experiment

Plants transport water through tubes called xylem. These tiny tubes run through the roots, stems, and leaves of the plant. When the celery stalk sits in the colored water, the plant begins pulling water upward through the xylem. This happens because of capillary action, where water moves through narrow spaces. It also occurs because of transpiration, which is when water evaporates from the leaves and pulls more water upward from the stem.

The food coloring travels with the water, allowing you to see the pathways that water takes through the plant. This is the same process plants use in nature to move water and nutrients from their roots up to their leaves.