No basic pipe cleaner crystals! Here’s how to grow Borax crystals on bottle brush trees + the crucial sealing. Bedazzled trees — STEM craft!
Look, we’ve all seen those Pinterest-perfect crystal growing projects with pipe cleaners. Yawn.
Maybe you even grew some for a science experiment way back in 5th grade. So old school.
While many crystal growing projects use simple pipe cleaners, we’re taking this classic STEM activity to the next level by creating enchanting crystallized trees that look like they’ve been touched by winter frost.
Get ready to feel like a crafting wizard and a mad scientist all at once!
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
- The “Why Is This Even Working?” Science Stuff
- Let’s Make Some Magic! (Step-by-Step, It’s a Dance Party After all)
- Why Sealing Is Like Insurance for Your Crystals
- Leftover Crystal Soup — Still Magical!
- When Things Go Wrong (Because Sometimes They Do)
- Mix It Up! (Fun Variations)
- Keeping Your Crystal Trees Happy
- Safety First, Crystal Growing Second
- Take It Further (For The Extra Curious)
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The “Why Is This Even Working?” Science Stuff
Before we dive into the magical transformation, let’s talk about what’s actually happening here (don’t worry, I’ll keep it short, sweet and very low-level chemistry).
A brief nerd-out:
- When we dissolve a crystal-forming agent in hot water, we create a supersaturated solution — our crystal growing solution.
- The hot liquified molecules buzz around looking for a preferably rough surface to grab onto. At these points the seed crystal forms
- As the solution cools, the dissolved agent’s molecules begin arranging themselves into their natural crystalline structure.
- The seed crystals gradually build larger crystals as more molecules cool and attach to these initial formation points.
- The crystal structure, or shape of the crystals, is determined by the molecular makeup of the crystal forming agent.
- And there crystal growth is controlled in part by the changing temperature of the water.
In a nutshell, that’s it!
There are many crystal forming agents. Some as common as table salt and sugar (remember rock candy?). It’s also possible to make epsom salt crystals and alum crystals. Or really dig out the lab coat and make crystals we can’t really pronounce.
But I prefer making crystals using Borax — yes, the commonly available 20 Mule Team Borax that is a laundry booster and claims to be all natural and non-toxic. And it quick-acting. Table salt can take a week to start crystallizing. No thanks
And instead of pipe cleaners, we are crystallizing basic bottle brush trees.
When we mix borax and hot water, we’re basically creating crystal soup. As the water cools down, the borax molecules have a little party and arrange themselves into crystals. Your bottle brush tree is basically the dance floor where all this crystal action happens. Science! 🧪
And then you have delightful little trees encased in beautiful crystals. Stunning, right?
Let’s Make Some Magic!
(Step-by-Step, It’s a Dance Party After all)
Supplies and Materials-
- Bottle brush trees (any size – go wild!) This is the one I used. The pink ones seem to be sold out. But here are the same ones in green, in red, and in white. Three sizes in each color.
- Borax powder (found in the laundry aisle, looking suspiciously ordinary for something so magical)
- Hot water (the hotter the better, but please don’t burn yourself)
- Large glass jar or (or heat tolerant plastic) containers (your crystal incubators) — must be deep enough and large enough for your trees to hang in it fully-submerged without touching the bottom of the jar and can easily slide through the mouth.
- Pencil, wooden skewer, dowel, wooden spoon, paint stir, etc (to play suspension bridge across the top of the jar)
- Fishing line, string, wire (to play bunge cord for your trees)
- Food coloring (optional, for those who like to live colorfully)
- Clear craft sealer spray (IT’S IMPORTANT – more on this later!)
- Old towels to set containers on
- Old towels to drape over the containers to slow down the cooling of the party, optional
- Paper towel (for inevitable spills because we’re all human)
- Measuring cups (time to dust off those kitchen skills)
- Large pots for boiling water
- Large glass bowl and a long spoon for mixing your magic solution
Step 1) Prep Your “Laboratory”-
- Cover your workspace with old towels (don’t worry, it’s a laundry booster, so they’ll be super clean after they’re washed)
- Arrange your various containers — your crystal incubators) on the towel
- Have hot pads or mitts ready
Step 2) Prep Your Tree for Its Glow-Up-
- Wrap wire or tie string around your tree trunk at the base
- Attach it to a pencil or whatever you’re using for your extension bridge
- Make sure it hangs fairly straight (trying not to touch the walls)
Step 3) Create Your Crystal Potion-
- Heat water until it’s boiling
- For each 2 cups of water, I used half a cup of borax to start with
- Stir until the borax is dissolved into the water like magic
- For large crystals, (like my small pink tree) add even more borax. In my 2 quart bowl, I added another half cup at a time until it couldn’t dissolve any more — that’s now a supersaturated solution
- Add food coloring if you’re feeling fancy. I let the color of my trees shine through. But if you have white trees, you can really have fun with the colors.
- Pour this scientific brew into your incubator containers
Step 4) The Waiting Game (AKA The Hardest Part)-
- Dangle your tree in the solution (like it’s going for a spa day). If needed, add more “brew”, enough solution to cover the tree.
- Make sure it’s not touching anything (trees need personal space too you know)
- Put it somewhere quiet so the magic can happen undisturbed. I leave my containers on the towel and then gently lay another towel over them or wrap it around the jars to slow down the cooling process to room temperature. It’s the change in temperature that activates the the molecular changes that create the resulting crystal
- Wait 8-12 hours while tiny crystals form (resist the urge to poke it)
- I leave mine overnight (go binge watch something while magic happens)
Step 5) Hang to Dry-
- The next day, remove your sparkly tree (carefully – you’re not harvesting actual diamonds)
- Let them dry
- For my trees, I like to move them to another empty wide mouth container to hang dry for a bit
- Or the fir branch I tested, dried on a paper towel
Step 6) SUPER IMPORTANT SEALING STEP (Seriously, Don’t Skip This!)
- Seal that baby within 24 hours!
- Spray 2-3 light coats of clear sealer
- Let each coat dry (more waiting, I know, I know)
Why Sealing Is Like Insurance for Your Crystals
Listen up, because this is the part most crystal-growing tutorials don’t tell you: Without sealer, your beautiful crystal tree will eventually turn into a sad, white, crumbly mess. It’s like leaving a chocolate bar in your pocket – nothing good comes from it.
A spray craft sealer will work. Less water is best so I suggest a polyurethane craft spray.
The sealer is like a force field that keeps your crystals looking fabulous forever(ish).
Leftover Crystal Soup — Still Magical!
Good news – your crystal-making brew isn’t a one-hit wonder! Unlike that questionable leftovers container in your fridge, this solution is totally reusable. Just:
– Reheat it like you’re warming up coffee
– Add more water
– Toss in some extra borax
– BAM! You’re ready for round two!
Got crusty crystal-covered jars? No problem! Pour in hot solution and watch those crystals disappear like magic.
🚫 WARNING: My Great Pinecone Experiment of 2024 turned the solution brown faster than a banana in a lunch bag. If you’re brave enough to try pinecones (still testing this, stay tuned!), keep that solution separate unless you want everything looking like iced coffee. #PineconeProblems
Quick pause to ask If you are enjoying this post? Would you like to see if I can solve the Pinecone Problems? Be sure to subscribe to join our creative community and get all the goodies:
Many thanks. Now back to our crystals!
When Things Go Wrong (Because Sometimes They Do)
If your crystals are being stubborn, check these common oopsies:
- Water’s not hot enough (lukewarm is for coffee, not crystal growing)
- Not enough borax (don’t be stingy with the magic powder)
- Someone bumped the container (looking at you, curious cats)
- Tree’s playing touch-the-sides (personal space, remember?)
Mix It Up! (Fun Variations)
- Go big or go tiny with different tree sizes
- Add food coloring for some pizzazz
- Mix up the amount of Borax in your crystal recipe. My taller burgundy tree was not as concentrated so the branches are encrusted with small crystals.
- Try mixing different crystal-growing compounds (you mad scientist, you)
- Create a whole enchanted forest (because a crystal garden is so last year)
- Try crystallizing other items. Keep in mind a smooth surface its not a good idea.
HINT: More posts and crystallizing projects coming
Keeping Your Crystal Trees Happy
- Store in a cool, dry place (not your bathroom)
- Keep away from sunlight (they’re not actual plants)
- Handle with care (they’re fancy now)
- Maybe put them in a glass dome (because you’re extra like that)
Safety First, Crystal Growing Second
- Get a grown-up if you’re not one (no solo kid scientists)
- Don’t eat or drink from any containers you use (seriously, just don’t)
- Keep away from tiny humans and curious pets
Take It Further (For The Extra Curious)
Want to really geek out? Try:
- Looking up crystal structures (they’re like nature’s Legos)
- Testing different temperatures (science fair, anyone?)
- Playing with solution strength (more isn’t always better) The pink tree had supersaturated solution. The burgundy tree had reused solution with additional water and borax (not supersaturated).
- Breaking out the magnifying glass (prepare to be amazed)
Congratulations! You’ve just leveled up from basic crystal grower to Crystal Wizard Supreme.
Your bottle brush trees are now the fanciest trees in town, and you’ve got the mad science skills to prove it.
I hope you are inspired and realize how easy this really is. Questions? Don’t hesitate; I’m here to help.
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These are beautiful, what a fun idea. Thanks for sharing with us at Handmade Monday 🙂