How to Grow Your Own Crystal Garden

Learn the science of supersaturation by growing beautiful, delicate crystals right on your kitchen counter. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Prepare your base. Place your rock or a small piece of cardboard inside the glass jar. This will be the surface where your crystals start to grow.
2. Mix the solution. Ask a grown-up to help you pour 1 cup of hot water into a bowl. Slowly stir in your salt, one spoonful at a time, until it stops dissolving and you see a little bit of salt sitting at the bottom of the bowl. This is called a supersaturated solution.
3. Add color and pour. If you want colored crystals, add a drop or two of food coloring to your mixture. Carefully pour the liquid into your jar until the rock or cardboard is just barely covered.
4. Find the perfect spot. Place your jar on a tray in a sunny, quiet spot where it won't be bumped. Over the next few days, the water will evaporate, and your crystals will begin to form.