Prepare your workspace and tray with a towel underneath and arrange necessary materials nearby.

Spoon baking soda into the tray to form a layer about 1/4 to 1/2 inch thick.

Create small mounds or forms using a spoon or toothpick.

Optional: Sprinkle a pinch of table salt in desired areas.

In small cups, combine one teaspoon of white vinegar with three to four drops of food coloring and stir gently.

Test one drop first by adding a single drop of colored solution to a mound and observe.

Carefully apply color to edges or peaks, observing fizzing.

Repeat with different colors and allow them to mingle.

Check for crystal growth every 10 to 30 minutes.

Add small drops at the bases of new formations for vertical growth.

Let the scene dry slowly in a stable temperature area.

Enjoy or preserve your crystal forest as desired.