Crystal Flower - How to Crystallize a Real Flower

Heres how to crystallize a real flower to make a beautiful decoration. Crystal Flower Materials You can do this project with any type of real (or fake) flower. Flowers with strong stems, like this thistle, work very well because the stem can support the weight of the crystals. If you use a fragile flower or a seed head, you may wire the stem or support it with a pipecleaner to help it support the weight. The crystals will absorb pigment from the flowers, producing a pastel tint, or you can add food coloring to the solution to color the flowers. Real flowerBoraxHot waterFood coloring (optional) What To Do Find a cup or jar large enough to hold the flower.Pour boiling water into the cup.Stir in borax until it stops dissolving. Add food coloring, if desired.Place the flower in the cup. You can tie a string to the stem of the flower and hang it in the cup from a pencil if you are concerned about crystals sticking the flower to the cup, but it isnt usually a big deal.Let the crystals grow for a few hours to overnight, depending on how thick you want the crystals to be.Remove the flower from the cup and gently place it on a paper towel to dry.You can place the flower in a vase to display it. Edible Crystal Flower If you substitute sugar or even salt, you can made an edible crystal flower. The principal is the same, but the crystals typically require a day or longer to grow. To get sugar crystals on a flower, add as much sugar as will dissolve in boiling hot water. Feel free to add food coloring or even a drop or two of flavoring. Let the solution cool to near room temperature before adding the flower. Place the container in a quiet location. You may need to break a top crust off the solution and occasionally move the flower to keep it from sticking to the sides or bottom of the container. You could suspend the flower in the liquid by tying it to a pencil or butter knife laid across the top of the container. The sugar solution is much thicker (syrupy) than the borax solution, so its best to attempt this project after youve mastered easier-to-grow crystals. Learn More Make a Glow in the Dark FlowerBorax Crystal SnowflakeMake Colored Flowers