Comments on: How to Grow Alum Crystals

on 8/11/2006 When you are trying to add food coloring to the solution to color the crystals, don't directly put the food coloring into the solution because it will take up a lot of food coloring. I recommend that you first add food coloring to the alum, mix it to make sure that the tiny alum crystals are all colored. Let them dry, and then add them to the solution.They use this type of technique in crystal growing kits.

on 8/8/2006 Grow an Alum crystal, then burn the tip of the crystal. Next, you let it cool off. When the tip is black, then let it sit in ice cold water.

on 12/23/2005 For this you'll want something non-porous, like a glass tray, a glazed ceramic dish or a plastic saucer. Get a small bag of aquarium rocks at your local WalMart and select a handful of them. I recommend small, clear ones, but it's your choice.

Clean them in hot water, then dry with a paper towel. Spread these about in your dish and set aside.

Make a smaller alum and water solution as suggested; perhaps only a sixth or a fourth of it, depending on how large your dish is.

When the fluid is ready, carefully pour or ladle the liquid over the aquarium rocks. Set aside to dry.

Repeat this for the next few days, perhaps adding a few drops of color to the solution, and selectively pouring the liquid. In a few weeks, you'll have a rather interesting formation of crystals perfect for sitting in a window or as an attractive, and fun, centerpiece.

Remember not to let children try to eat the crystals!