Duckweed

[pinkertd]

Can someone tell me how duckweed multiplies?

[Notophthalmus]

The plant reproduces via buds, much like hydra. It can also reproduce sexually; it will produce tiny flowers, followed by tiny fruit.

[msjinkzd]

huh, neat

[DAVIDFBT]

They bud out another plant attached to them and when the sub plant grows large enough it divides. Kind of like bigger floating pond plants.

[avatar]

neat, but the better question is how do you get rid of it once you have it.

[Bk718]

I think correct term for how it multiplies is "like wildfire!!!" :silly:

Avatar, you are right. Its really a PITA especially if you have other floating plants. But normally a simple net sweep here and there and its out.

Also every time i reach down into the tank and bring my arm up it comes out looking like some duckweed monster

[Notophthalmus]

You think it's a pain getting it out of your tank, try getting it out of your hair and clothes!

I spend a lot of time in the swamp. Duckweed is a great infiltrator. Especially Wolffia!

[noodles62]

You think it's a pain getting it out of your tank, try getting it out of your hair and clothes!

I spend a lot of time in the swamp. Duckweed is a great infiltrator. Especially Wolffia!

Thank God I don't do your laundry! LOL....

[Lupin]

Funny thing my Pomacea canaliculata managed to wipe all my duckweeds much to my shock. I was saving some to provide shade for the plecos. Still searching for them but plants are not often available in many stores. I'll have to pester a friend to get me some if he has time out from his work in LFS.lol

[Notophthalmus]

Do you not have duckweeds growing wild where you live, Lupin? I thought they were pretty much ubiquitous in warm areas.

[Lupin]

Do you not have duckweeds growing wild where you live, Lupin? I thought they were pretty much ubiquitous in warm areas.
I don't frequent our local waterways anymore, Noto. They're either loaded with fertilizers and pesticides because of farms or polluted because of some careless idiots who do not know how to throw their garbage properly. Sad I know.:( I believe my friend may have some as he is into aquatic gardening and doesn't sell his plants to LFS but only when asked.

[Notophthalmus]

Ah. Well, that's a shame.

[pinkertd]

I managed to inherit a little of it with some taiwan moss a while back and just wasn't sure how it was multiplying. I've being doing some googling about duckweed and apparantly it's quite the water purifier and great to keep algae under control among other things. Take a look at this research going on in my own state right now:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/ru-dgs070808.php

[jpappy789]

Interesting stuff here...glad I don't have it though!

[Lupin]

I managed to inherit a little of it with some taiwan moss a while back and just wasn't sure how it was multiplying. I've being doing some googline about duckweed and apparantly it's quite the water purifier and great to keep algae under control among other things. Take a look at this research going on in my own state right now:

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-07/ru-dgs070808.php
Elodea densa can be just as effective. Whenever I remove plenty of these plants, my ponds start to get algal bloom.:lipssealedsmilie:

[pinkertd]

Geez, you may have to think twice before chucking a bunch of duckweed in the trash bins: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2008/07/duckweed-genome.php

[247Plants]

I noticed about a million aphids on the leaves of my duckweed the other day.......exactly one aphid per leaf.

Awesome thing is....they are decimating my duckweed and I figure once the food supply dwindles to nothing, so will they.

[Polish]

I guess there was a tiny amount on a plant I added to my tank, I can only assume since I have no other ideas where mine came from. But literally over night I had hundreds of little ones, I don't mind them though. I just keep it in check by tossing some when need be.

[jackiomy]

Get a goldfish. We have to go buy duckweed a couple of times a summer because the goldfish eat all of it.