Migratory birds with duckweed clinging to their feathers can spread duckweed to locations they fly to and from. Given enough nitrogen and phosphorus nutrients, duckweed can be very prolific, doubling in number in three to five days.
In two weeks, a single parent plant can result in up to 17,500 plants. It is possible for a new plant to be produced every 24 hours.
Extensive mats of duckweed colonies may cover an entire pond surface, depleting oxygen and blocking sunlight. Fish and submerged plants can be killed.
Duckweed can tolerate a wide range pH, between 4.5 and 7.5, as well as temperatures between 68F (20C) and 86F (30C), making duckweed a challenging aquatic plant pest management issue worldwide.
Where To Find Duckweed
