Common duckweed (Lemna minor)
Care, watering, light and tips for Common duckweed on Floravia.
Quick facts
- Family: Araceae
- Difficulty: Easy to care for
- Watering: every 7 days
- Light: Indirect light
- Temperature: 15–30 °C
About Common duckweed
Lemna minor, commonly known as common duckweed, is a tiny free-floating aquatic plant that forms dense green mats on the water's surface. Its small, oval-shaped leaves, only a few millimeters in size, make it an excellent choice for ponds, freshwater aquariums, or as a living cover in aquatic containers, adding a natural touch and aiding oxygenation.
Native range
Cosmopolitan, found almost worldwide except in polar regions and extreme deserts
Care tips
This plant thrives in bright to indirect light, avoiding intense direct sunlight which can overheat the water. Being a floating plant, it does not require substrate and obtains its nutrients directly from the water, so nutrient-rich water is beneficial. Be sure to control its growth, as it can proliferate rapidly and cover the entire surface, blocking light from other plants. A common mistake is introducing it into systems where total coverage is not desired, as its removal can be laborious.
How to save a dying Common duckweed
- Warning signs
- Pale, yellowing or whitish leaves, slow growth, rotting.
- First aid
- Ensure indirect light, clean water and nutrients if in an aquarium. Remove dead parts.
- What kills it
- Water contamination, nutrient deficiency (if in aquarium), too much direct sun or stagnation.
- Can it be saved?
- Yes! It's very resilient. With clean water and stable conditions, it recovers quickly.