it usually starts with a stalactite, then a stalagmite; by the way is there a mnemonic for the two words in English? something like t for tumbling and m for mounting...

I always remember it with “g” for ground and “c” for ceiling… haha but I do like the mites and tites one too in a neighbor comment :)

The one I've heard is 'just remember ants in pants: the mites go up, the tites come down'

Stalactites hold “tight” to the ceiling.

Courtesy of a 30-year-old Bill Nye episode.

I also heard this lame one: stalagmites might hang, but they don't.

I memorized it as "c" for "ceiling" and "g" for "ground."

If I needed a mnemonic today, just remember that drops slowly drip from stalactites, like drops in a chemical titration procedure.

Tights go down and mites go up.

T from the top

hope it holds tight...