How to Grow Duckweed Indoors

Duckweed can form a thick covering on water.

Like any other plant, duckweed needs light, proper temperature and a growing medium to thrive. While these small aquatic flowering plants grow readily in open ponds, quiet streams or shallow wetlands in direct sunlight, duckweed will also grow well indoors under artificial light.

Things You'll Need

• Duckweed
• Lidless containers
• Pond water or fresh water
• Table sugar
• Aquatic plant fertilizer
• Light source

Instructions

1. Place pond water in a container to prepare for your duckweed. You can also use plain water and add a few teaspoons of table sugar or aquatic plant fertilizer.

2. Place some duckweed in your container. You can acquire duckweed from garden centers, fish stores or stores that sell aquatic plants and supplies. While you can obtain duckweed from ponds, you can also bring home undesirable organisms.

3. Place the containers with duckweed near a sunny window or under a grow light. Your duckweed should grow rapidly.

Tips & Warnings

• Handle duckweed carefully because the plants are very sensitive to touch. These plants will grow rapidly, so remove some every few days to provide room for additional growth. The plants you remove may be used as food for any topical fish you own.

References

• Missouri Botanical Garden: Tips for Growing Duckweed
• Fishfarming: Sustainable Aquaculture
• Iowa State University Extension: Duckweed