How to Grow and Care for Duckweed

)is one of the smallest flowering plants on Earth.

Here are the main care requirements for Common Duckweed.

Prevent overgrowth early in the spring to maintain the health of ponds.

Ponds set in motion by the wind or calmly moving waters have fewer problems and require less duckweed control.

High-quality, full spectrum light and the addition of trace minerals during water changes will encourage denser growth.

Water

Common duckweed grows quickly, floating on the surface of calm water.

Add dechlorinated water and blow air using a straw until the water shows signs of oxygenation.

Check the pH level (preferably 6.0-8.0) and add the duckweed.

Add a balanced 10-10-10liquid fertilizerthat has iron, likely found at an aquarium store.

Dilute the fertilizer with four to five times the normal amount of water.

Common duckweed is adaptable to temperature.

For best results, maintain a temperature between 63 to 79F.

Start prevention early in spring before the spread becomes a nuisance.

Common duckweed is often propagated by division or fragmentation.

verify water is properly circulated, and consider adding beneficial insects such as ladybugs.

Bacterial canker and fire blight can also affect duckweed.

Common duckweed keeps water clean, prevents the overgrowth of algae, and generously feeds fish.

Tadpoles, beavers, and birds are also fond of the plant.

In fact, duckweed is grown in the commercial sector as a protein-packed animal feed for fish and livestock.

The ideal spot is less than a foot from a window that receives lots of direct light.

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension.

Louisiana State University College of Agriculture.

Nur Amirah Aida Mohd Zuki et al.The Classification of Duckweed and Its Bacterial Community: A review.MjoSHT,vol.

8, no.1, 2022. doi:10.33102/MJOSHT.V8I1.238