How to Grow Your Own Crystals Using Salt and Sugar

Learn how to grow beautiful, sparkling crystals at home using simple kitchen ingredients and a bit of patience. HowTo: Family Edition: family how-tos that actually help.

1. Prepare your solution. Ask a grown-up to heat 2 cups of water in a saucepan until it is steaming but not boiling. Stir in your salt or sugar one spoonful at a time until no more will dissolve and you see a little bit sitting at the bottom of the pan.
2. Set up your crystal starter. Carefully pour the liquid into your glass jar. If you want colored crystals, add a drop or two of food coloring now. Tie one end of your string to the middle of your pencil and rest the pencil across the top of the jar so the string hangs into the liquid without touching the bottom or sides.
3. Wait for the magic. Place your jar in a quiet, sunny spot where it won't be bumped. Over the next few days, you will see crystals start to grow on the string. Check on them once a day, but try not to move the jar!