How to Dye Carnations

White carnations may look simple and plain, but they are a wonderful canvas for creativity. With a little bit of time, water, and food coloring, you can turn carnations into just about any color you want. With a clever technique, you can even dye a single carnation multiple colors!

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Dyeing

  1. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 1
    1
    Get a fresh, white carnation. Avoid using wilted ones, as they won't take up the dye as well. You can use more carnations if you want to.[1]
  2. 2
    Cut the end of the carnation off at an angle. It would be even better if you submerged the stem in water first, then cut the ends off underwater. This will prevent air bubbles from forming at the base of the stem. Air bubbles can clog up the stem, and prevent the colored water from flowing as well.[2]
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  3. 3
    Fill a jar with warm water. You will need at least ½ cup (120 milliliters) of water. How much you use depends on the size of jar you are using.[3] The flower will soak up warm water much faster than cool water.[4]
  4. 4
    Stir in some food coloring. You will need 20 to 30 drops of food coloring per 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) of water.[5] Stir the food coloring into the water with a spoon until the color is consistent.[6]
    • If you don't have any food coloring, you can use liquid watercolor instead (but not regular paint).
  5. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 5
    5
    Set the carnation into the water, then wait for it to change color. How fast the petals change color depends on how "thirsty" the flower was and what color you are using.[7] Some colors show up much faster than others. It also depends on how long the stem was to begin with; the longer the stem, the longer it will take.[8]
    • The flowers won't end up a bright and solid color; they will be streaky with patches of white.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Tie Dyeing

  1. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 6
    1
    Get a fresh, white carnation. Don't use a colored one, or the colors won't show up well. Also, avoid using an old, wilted carnation, or it won't soak up the water or dye.
  2. 2
    Trim about 4 inches (10 centimeters) off of the bottom of the carnation. Use a sharp knife or a pair of scissors for this. For even better results, cut the stems while they are under the water. This will prevent air bubbles, which can lead to early wilting.[9]
  3. 3
    Split the stem lengthwise down the middle with a sharp knife. Split the stems until you are about halfway up the stem. Place the cut carnation into a vase filled with plain water when you are done.[10]
    • If you are really careful, you can try to split the stem into three parts rather than two.
  4. 4
    Fill 2 to 3 small glasses with warm water. You will need about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) of water for each glass.[11] Make sure that the glasses have straight walls; avoid using anything that curves inward or outward.
    • You can also use test tubes instead. Tie them together with string or a rubber band first, then set them down into a cup.[12]
  5. 5
    Add some food coloring into each cup. Be generous with the dye. Plan on using 20 to 30 drops for ½ cup (120 milliliters) of water. Stir the water until the color is consistent.
  6. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 11
    6
    Set the carnation into the jars. Place the jars close together so that they are touching. Make sure that the segments are well-submerged; add more water and dye, if needed.[13]
  7. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 12
    7
    Wait for the carnation to start changing color. This may take as little as a few hours to as long as a whole day. Keep in mind that some colors show up much faster than others. For example, if you used pink, yellow, and blue, you might see the blue show up after a few hours, and the yellow show up after a day.
  8. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 13
    8
    Take the carnation out of the dye once it's the color you want it to be. Keep in mind that carnations dyed in this manner will rarely turn out a solid color; they will usually have white streaks in them.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Dip Dyeing

  1. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 14
    1
    Get some fresh, white carnations. You can dye just one carnation, if you want to, but because you will be using so much water and dye for this method, you might as well dye a whole bunch. You will need to dye one carnation at a time, however.
  2. 2
    Prepare the dye bath. Fill a large bucket with 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water. Stir in 1 tablespoon (13 grams) of alum and enough food coloring to get the color you want. If you don't have any food coloring, use liquid watercolor or colored ink instead.[14]
    • You can use fabric dye instead. Pour enough dye into 1 gallon (3.8 liters) of water until you get the color you want.[15]
    • You can also use a floral dye. Mix it according to the instructions on the package, as each brand may be different.[16]
  3. 3
    Dip the flower bloom into the dye bath. Hold the carnation by the stem, then dip the flower part into the bucket. Swish the carnation around in the water for about two seconds, then lift it out.[17]
  4. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 17
    4
    Let the excess dye drip back. Hold the flower upside down over the bucket, and let the excess dye drip back into the dye bath. You can give the flower a gentle shake, if you need to.
  5. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 18
    5
    Set the carnation into a vase and let it dry. If you think that the flower turned out too dark, you can rinse the excess dye off under clean water.[18] Keep in mind, however, that the color will lighten a little as the flower dries.[19]
    • You can dye more flowers while you wait for the first one to dry.
  6. Image titled Dye Carnations Step 19
    6
    Use the carnation in your floral arrangement. Once you have dyed the flower, you can trim its stem, pull off its leaves, etc. You can use it fresh, or you can dry it further to preserve it. Be careful not to get the blossom part wet, however, or the dye may run.
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Community Q&A

  • Question
    How many hours will it take to dye them blue?
    Beth H.
    Beth H.
    Community Answer
    It could take 1-6 hours depending on the flower.
  • Question
    Can I put the dyed carnations into plan water once they are finished in the colored water?
    T. Chinsen
    T. Chinsen
    Top Answerer
    Yes, you can. They will not fade when placed in plain water.
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Things You'll Need

Dyeing Carnations

  • Fresh, white carnation
  • Food coloring
  • Water
  • Jar
  • Sharp knife

Tie Dyeing Carnations

  • Fresh, white carnation
  • Food coloring, 2 to 3 colors
  • Water
  • 2 to 3 cups
  • Sharp knife

Dip Dyeing Carnations

  • Fresh, white carnation
  • Alum
  • Food coloring or ink
  • Water
  • Bucket
  • Vase

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References

  1. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-colored-flowers-606178
  2. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-colored-flowers-606178
  3. ↑ Denise Porcaro Tupper. Floral Design Expert. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
  4. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-colored-flowers-606178
  5. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-colored-flowers-606178
  6. ↑ Denise Porcaro Tupper. Floral Design Expert. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
  7. ↑ Denise Porcaro Tupper. Floral Design Expert. Expert Interview. 5 April 2022.
  8. ↑ http://www.kitchencounterchronicle.com/science-experiment/
  9. ↑ https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/colorful-carnations/
  1. ↑ https://www.stevespanglerscience.com/lab/experiments/colorful-carnations/
  2. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/2012/07/make-patriotic-flowers-for-4th-of-july-decorations.html
  3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWm0Kcw7MWM
  4. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/2012/07/make-patriotic-flowers-for-4th-of-july-decorations.html
  5. ↑ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep004
  6. ↑ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep004
  7. ↑ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep004
  8. ↑ http://www.floristchronicles.com/2011/create-black-flowers
  9. ↑ http://www.floristchronicles.com/2011/create-black-flowers
  10. ↑ http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep004
  11. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-colored-flowers-606178
  12. ↑ http://www.kitchencounterchronicle.com/science-experiment/
  13. ↑ https://artfulparent.com/2012/07/make-patriotic-flowers-for-4th-of-july-decorations.html
  14. ↑ http://www.floristchronicles.com/2011/create-black-flowers
  15. ↑ http://www.floristchronicles.com/2011/create-black-flowers
  16. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWm0Kcw7MWM
  17. ↑ https://www.thoughtco.com/how-to-make-colored-flowers-606178

About This Article

Denise Porcaro Tupper
Co-authored by:
Denise Porcaro Tupper
Floral Design Expert
This article was co-authored by Denise Porcaro Tupper. Denise Porcaro Tupper is a Floral Design Expert, as well as the Founder & Owner of Flower Girl NYC. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, she specializes in curating lush, whimsical bouquets, large dramatic installations, and everything in between. Denise has worked with notable clientele including Vogue, Chanel, Proenza Schouler, and Marc Jacobs, and has also had numerous collaborations with companies such as Liberty of London, Gap, and Coach. This article has been viewed 80,503 times.
3 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 9
Updated: July 28, 2022
Views: 80,503
Categories: Flower Arranging and Floral Art
Article SummaryX

To dye a carnation, start with a fresh, white carnation and some food dye. Snip the end of the stem off at an angle, then fill a jar with warm water and 20-30 drops of food dye or liquid watercolor. Once the water is brightly colored, set the carnation in the water and wait anywhere between an hour and 24 hours for it to change colors. To make a multicolored carnation, “tie dye” the flower by splitting the stem in half lengthwise with a sharp knife, then putting each half of the stem in a different color dye. To learn how to dip dye your carnations, scroll down!

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