Click to plant seeds — osmotic pressure grows mineral stalks upward
Chemical gardens form when metal salt crystals dissolve in sodium silicate solution. The ion concentration gradient drives osmotic pressure across the semi-permeable precipitate membrane. When pressure exceeds membrane strength, a tube ruptures upward, instantly re-seals at the tip, and continues growing — like a plant stem. This is a classic example of self-organized structure driven purely by reaction-diffusion and osmotic forces. Real chemical gardens are studied as analogs for hydrothermal vent chemistry and the origin of life (alkaline vent hypothesis, Russell & Martin 2004). Click anywhere to add seeds; drag to paint.