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…
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.