http://straderspiel.wordpress.com/2012/03/19/crystal-garden/ |
Here's how to create a crystal garden:
- Place chunks of your substrate (i.e., charcoal briquette, sponge, cork, brick, porous rock) in an even layer in the non-metal pan. You want pieces that are roughly 1-inch in diameter, so you may need to (carefully) use a hammer to break the material up.
- Sprinkle water, preferably distilled, onto the substrate until is has been thoroughly dampened. Pour off any excess water.
- In an empty jar, mix 3 tablespoons (45 ml) uniodized salt, 3 tablespoons (45 ml) ammonia, and 6 tablespoons (90 ml) bluing. Stir until the salt is dissolved.
- Pour the mixture over the prepared substrate.
- Add and swirl a bit of water around in the empty jar to pick up the remaining chemicals and pour this liquid onto the substrate, too.
- Add a drop of food coloring here and there across the surface of the 'garden'. Areas with no food coloring will be white.
- Sprinkle more salt (about 2 T or about 30 ml) across the surface of the 'garden'.
- Set the 'garden' in an area where it will not be disturbed.
- On days 2 and 3, pour a mixture of ammonia, water, and bluing (2 tablespoons or 30 ml each) in the bottom of the pan, being careful not to disturb the delicate growing crystals.
- Keep the pan in an undisturbed place, but check on it periodically to watch your very cool garden grow!
Instructions from http://chemistry.about.com/cs/growingcrystals/ht/charcoalgarden.htm
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