Hydroponics: Duckweed

[plain2growJim]

Duckweed, pigweed, purslane, or portulaca oleracea are all names for a very popular succulant plant in Mexico, China and the Middle East. Americans see it as a weed but many other people use it as a very tasty food high in vitamins, minerals and omega - 3. It is somewhat salty, lemony and crunchy. I'm going to be growing some myself as a hydroponic experiment. The plant has great potential to feed the world and to be a viable commercial growing opportunity. I subbed and added the video to faves!

[Living4fishing]

WTF IS THE PONIT OF THIS

[leannvlewis]

I second benchkeys comment.

You've got great info to share, but the swinging camera sucks ..

Thanks for sharing

[ManTheBush]

I am using florescent lights right now, would metal halide or High pressure sodium work better or make it grow faster?

[peppernickelly]

Make more videos! Ppl are interested in this and you had a start with this video. Duckweed needs nutrients for healthy growth, so put a drab of fertilizer in there to feed those things. you may not have the duckweed or even the tank anymore but you should get to work and so ppl what you can do man

[SEgnargnar]

nice video, thanks. just curious - what is the point of the experiment? growth rate? density? water treatment??? thanks

[benchkey]

Please hold the camera steady, STOP swinging it around. You have information to offer, but the video makes me dizzy.

[shogibo2]

@Supermauli Well, i did get the duckweed to cover the surface of the tank just on tapwater. However, I did throw some elodea in there, and some small snails came with the plants. I noticed that my duckweed growth exploded with the introduction of the snails, so I threw in some Tiger Snails (Neritina natalensis) and a Japanese Trapdoor Snail (Viviparis malleatus), and I had great success. The snails will also eat any algae growth as well. And the temperature of my water is 21°C.

[shogibo2]

@leo33023 If you mean family, then its Lemnaoideae, a subfamily, distinguishing it from other plants in Araceae. If you mean genus, its Lemna. And you can get some at any local pond or aquarium supplies store, which is where I got some. Even a pet store you can possibly ask for some, or any place that sells koi, as its really popular as a cheap koi feed.

[shogibo2]

Sorry for not responding to all those asking questions, I'm just finally getting around to it...

@ninadesianti If you have a problem with the algae, I suggest adding a couple Tiger Snails (Neritina natalensis). I added them to my tank, and they never disturbed the duckweed, and got rid of all the algae growth. As for the chlorosis, most likely. I use a 54W lamp, and I haven't had any problems.

[ninadesianti]

@shogibo2 Thank you! I'll try it

[warden9876]

I once caught a whitefish under a duckweed mass and then wrapped the whitefish in the tatters of a cassock.

[ninadesianti]

thanks for the information. I also grow Lemna in a spring water, I have problem with adding nutrients, I add plant fertilizer then the green algae are blooming, and then I use the Murashige and skoog modified media growth, but the molds are growing on my Lemna. Now, I'm using the spring water, it was fine, but without aeration, soon there's a biofilm, bacteria growing. It's frustrating. Now, my Lemna has chlorosis problem, is it from the high light exposure?

[SEgnargnar]

@ninadesianti try spraying it with a hard rain...not aerating...the heavy rain drops will not the biofilm off and to the bottom, while breaking up the DW and allowing faster growth.

[otivaeey]

Google "grow fish intensively" and you will find a guide to build an automatic duckweed feeder.

[ftree123]

this makes me dizzy...

[m1ssfROGY]

@ftree123  ya man

[Supermauli]

Hello ...

How is your success with just tap water?

I'm also growing duckweed at the moment an I'm having a little trouble by just using water without fertilizer.

what is the temperature of your water ...i use 18°C

[mooo3721]

Thanks for the information!

[flpitgirl]

Thanks for this video as I am looking to grow duckweed for my tilapia