Duckweed (Lemna minor) Care Guide
The smallest flowering plant in the world, forming a bright green film on the water surface. Reproduces extremely fast and is an excellent nutrient absorber, but can become invasive and block light if…
Compiled by Aquairi from published sources · Published
Overview
Lemna minor is an aquatic plant in the family Lemnaceae. The smallest flowering plant in the world, forming a bright green film on the water surface. Reproduces extremely fast and is an excellent nutrient absorber, but can become invasive and block light if not controlled.
Taxonomy
- Family: Lemnaceae
- Genus: Lemna
- Scientific name: Lemna minor
- Other names: Common Duckweed, Lesser Duckweed
Habitat
Cosmopolitan species occurring on still and slow freshwater across Africa, Asia, Europe and North America. Each frond carries a single hanging root; reproduction is mainly vegetative by budding.
Growth requirements
- Light: low (≈30-50 PAR at substrate)
- CO2: optional (CO2 improves growth and coloration)
- Temperature: 15-30 °C
- pH: 5.5-8
- GH: 2-20 °dGH
- Substrate: any (rootless or floating)
- Nutrient demand: low
- Growth rate: fast
- Difficulty: beginner
Placement
- Recommended placement: floating at the surface
- Maximum height: 1 cm
- Trim every: 3 days
Propagation
In cultivation the plant is propagated by vegetative division or fragmentation.