Borax Crystal Tree
A mesmerizing craft project to create beautiful Borax crystal trees while learning about science and crystallization.
Ingredients
Materials for Borax Crystal Tree
- 1 cup Borax (sodium borate)
- 3 cups boiling water Careful, as the water will be very hot!
- 1 a clean, heat-resistant container (glass jar)
- Pipe cleaners (green for the tree and other colors for decorations)
- 1 pencil or stick (to suspend the tree)
- Food coloring (optional for colored crystals) To create colored variations of the crystals.
- String (optional for securing the tree’s base)
Instructions
Prepare the Tree
- Twist together several green pipe cleaners to form the shape of a tree. Adjust the branches to your liking.
- Attach the tree to a pencil or stick, ensuring it can hang.
Make the Borax Solution
- Bring 3 cups of water to a boil.
- Gradually stir in 1 cup of Borax until fully dissolved. You should see some of it settle at the bottom, which is normal.
- If you want colored crystals, drop in a few drops of food coloring at this stage.
Grow Your Crystals
- Carefully pour the Borax solution into your heat-resistant container.
- Gently lower your pipe cleaner tree into the solution, making sure it doesn’t touch the sides or bottom.
- Place the setup in a quiet area away from vibrations. Crystals will begin to form within a few hours but are best left overnight for optimal growth.
Notes
You can try different food coloring for colorful trees, use alternatives like rocks or Styrofoam for the base, or make various tree shapes to enhance creativity. Consider creating multiple smaller trees for a forest display.