From my “Growing Crystals” experiments.
This is how I began my crystal project. I started with a super saturated sugar solution (at least twice as much sugar as water), and I lowered a string with a paper clip on the end into the solution keeping it in place with a “chop” stick. As sugar molecules “fell out” of solution due to evaporation, they began to form classic crystals. The key to this one is the string. It is very textured and irregular on its surface. A good starting place for crystals to develop.
I’m a 6′4″ 300 pound 52 year old married man and miraculous survivor of a hematological (blood based) cancer. The cancer pretty much destroyed my left hip and upper left femur. As a result, I needed three major operations that eventually led to a total hip replacement. I’ve been married to a severely disabled (muscular dystrophy) woman for 32 years. I am Senior Software Developer (medical systems) for 
