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Coal flowers
Posted by Lynne
Coal flowers January 17, 2005 10:59PM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 01:31AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 01:35AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 01:45AM |
Hi Alaine,
Will post the recipe later when I get time..........but basically, it's coal fed with chemicals, harmless stuff like ink and salt and amonia from memory. Grown in a glass bowl......the chemicals combine and grow these beautiful crystals forming "flowers", something akin to cauliflower form. Kids especially love the experiment. Esp big ones like me ! It can be kept going for a long time if fed every 2 days. More later today when I get home and find the recipe.
Will post the recipe later when I get time..........but basically, it's coal fed with chemicals, harmless stuff like ink and salt and amonia from memory. Grown in a glass bowl......the chemicals combine and grow these beautiful crystals forming "flowers", something akin to cauliflower form. Kids especially love the experiment. Esp big ones like me ! It can be kept going for a long time if fed every 2 days. More later today when I get home and find the recipe.
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 01:48AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 03:12AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 03:42AM |
Here'tis....Coal Flowers. My ole Gramma got us kids doing this about 50 odd years ago.
Use a glass bowl approx 20cm and into this put 4 or 5 pieces of washed and dried coal. The shinier the better.
Mix 2 tbsps Common salt, not Iodised, 15grs blue washing powder, or prussian blue, [available from some chemists ] 1x small bottle red ink, 3 tbsp clear household ammonia [as against cloudy, don't sniff!!! ] and 3 tblsp water. Pour this mix over and place in a warm place. For eg, my kitchen bench gets morning sun and it's fine there.Growth should start in about 24hrs. Every second day, after growth begins add 1x tsp salt and 1x tbsp water mixed together.
Very Important:
Pour salt and water mix carefully down the sides of the bowl NOT over the coal, so as not to disturb the coal flowers.
This plant is pink and white but you can use other coloured ink. More ink can also be added to the brine feed if colour starts to fade.
Have fun folks, and would love your feed back further down the line. This is especially nice for kids because the action starts in a day or so and it grows quite quickly.
Any further ? I would be happy to help. Ohhhhhh, Spose I'd better start thinking about the food dept with the family looming.
Cheers
Use a glass bowl approx 20cm and into this put 4 or 5 pieces of washed and dried coal. The shinier the better.
Mix 2 tbsps Common salt, not Iodised, 15grs blue washing powder, or prussian blue, [available from some chemists ] 1x small bottle red ink, 3 tbsp clear household ammonia [as against cloudy, don't sniff!!! ] and 3 tblsp water. Pour this mix over and place in a warm place. For eg, my kitchen bench gets morning sun and it's fine there.Growth should start in about 24hrs. Every second day, after growth begins add 1x tsp salt and 1x tbsp water mixed together.
Very Important:
Pour salt and water mix carefully down the sides of the bowl NOT over the coal, so as not to disturb the coal flowers.
This plant is pink and white but you can use other coloured ink. More ink can also be added to the brine feed if colour starts to fade.
Have fun folks, and would love your feed back further down the line. This is especially nice for kids because the action starts in a day or so and it grows quite quickly.
Any further ? I would be happy to help. Ohhhhhh, Spose I'd better start thinking about the food dept with the family looming.
Cheers
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 04:07AM |
That would have to be genuine coal and not the "coke" or so called coal sold in bags in supermarkets I would imagine...... right? They sound fascinating and would love to do some too. We have quite abit of coal found on the beach, is that good.
MUST get the "ingredients when I next shop ~ grand daughter coming over for anniversary weekend which will be a very good experiment to start then.
I can't wait :-)))))))
MUST get the "ingredients when I next shop ~ grand daughter coming over for anniversary weekend which will be a very good experiment to start then.
I can't wait :-)))))))
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 06:19AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 09:38AM |
Lynne, I asked a chemist years ago for some prussian blue for coal flowers and he just about had a blue fit. He told me prussian blue is cyanide!
I can remember my Nana always having a bowl of "flowers". I have never been able to grow them using "blue bags". Doubt if you can still get them.
Lyn.
I can remember my Nana always having a bowl of "flowers". I have never been able to grow them using "blue bags". Doubt if you can still get them.
Lyn.
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 10:31AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 18, 2005 10:41AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 21, 2005 11:16AM |
Re: Coal flowers January 21, 2005 10:57PM |
Re: Coal flowers January 22, 2005 01:19AM |
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