EASY Grow a Christmas Tree Science Project

This fun christmas tree science experiment is fun and easy to try and only takes a few days to start seeing crystals growing on your holiday tree. Use this christmas science in December with toddler, preschool, pre-k, kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, and 3rd grade kids to sneak in some fun learning while still enjoying the seaons. Your kids will be impressed by this christmas science experiments which demonstrates capillary action.

christmas tree science experiment

Sneak in a little holiday magic as you grow a Christmas tree right in your kitchen! This fun Christmas tree science experiment is not only easy to try but only takes a few days before you see beautiful crystals growing on your holiday creation!

What’s even better? This hands-on activity is perfect for getting toddlers, preschoolers, kindergarteners, grade 1, grade 2, and grade 3 students engaged in some festive learning while still enjoying the magic of the season. Your kids will be amazed as they watch the crystals form, and you can sneak in some science education without them even realizing it!

This experiment beautifully demonstrates the concept of capillary action, where water travels up a stem to nourish the plant. And in this case, your mini Christmas tree! All you need are some basic materials like paper towels, water, food coloring, and a bit of time to watch the transformation.

This is a fantastic way to bond with your little ones during this holiday season. Not only does it bring the spirit of Christmas into your home, but it also encourages curiosity and learning in an interactive way. You can discuss the science behind food coloring and how it travels through the fibers of the paper towel, colorfully brightening your little tree.

We have lots more christmas crafts and activities and science experiments for kids to choose from! Plus don’t miss spinning christmas tree experiment, fun christmas science experiments, free life cycle of a reindeer worksheets, and christmas tree science growing crystals.

christmas tree science

You only need a few simple materials to try this Christmas science activity, you may even have these supplies laying around your house, we did.

Cardboard box
scissors
shallow dish
green food coloring (1-2 containers)
6 tablespoons or 90 ml water
6 tablespoons or 90 ml table salt (preferably uniodized)
6 tablespoons or 90 ml Mrs. Stewart’s liquid laundry bluing
1 tablespoon or 15 ml household ammonia

christmas science

Basically you start by making your Christmas tree by carefully cutting with scissors two identical cardboard tree patterns. We do this by stacking them on top of each other to ensure they are exactly the same. Now cut a slit in the middle. Finally slide the pieces together like a puzzle to make a standing 3d tree. Place in a shallow dish.

christmas science experiments

Paint or drop green food coloring on the tree so it is completely saturated and green.

Then, mix up the following solution and carefully pour in the base of the tree in the dish.

– 6 tablespoons or 90 ml water

– 6 tablespoons or 90 ml table salt (preferably uniodized)

– 6 tablespoons or 90 ml Mrs. Stewart’s liquid laundry bluing

– 1 tablespoon or 15 ml household ammonia

christmas science projects

Depending on tempearture, humidity, and other factors you may start to see crystals as early as the next morning.It depends on a variety of factors as to when it is at it’s peak….but within a week you should have some lovely crystals that you used to grow a crystal tree.

Feel free to add additional green food coloring directly on the crystals as they form to help the color intensify.

If you are short on time, or patience – you can grow your own Christmas tree in less than 24 hours with this kit using a professional grade solution

Learn about Capilalry Action with this Christmas Activities

Capillary Action Experiment

So, why does this work? Let me try to break it down for you. The solution you mixed up created a suspension. So although it looked all mixed, there were still solid particles were large enough for settling out on the tee limbs through a process called sedimintation.

Curious why the decimintation went up instead of making crystals at the base of your tree right in the liquid? The liquid suspension was drawn up the cardboard tree through a process called capillary action (try this simple capillary action experiment to understand better). This is the same effect that can be seen when a plant like a flower draws up colored water through its capillaries (try our flower capillary action experiment to make 2-toned flowers!). Now that the liquid has been drawn up, evaporation occurs where liquid molecules escape as gas molecules. And ammonia evaporates much quicker than water. HINT: That’s part of why we added it to the solution to speed up the evaporation process! Now that the liquid is evaporating the bluing and salt in the solution can no longer be supported so they are left begin and begin to crystalize.

Add some decorations and enjoy your Christmas tree project you made yourself! Remember the crystals are fragile so try not to jostle or bump your tree.