Kelp Plant

What is a Kelp Plant?

A Kelp Plant is an underwater plant in Minecraft that generates in ocean biomes. It appears as a tall, green aquatic plant that grows from the ocean floor toward the surface. Kelp is one of the most abundant underwater plants and serves as both a renewable fuel source and a food item when dried. It is also used in automatic farms, composting, and water elevators due to its unique growth mechanics.

Unlike Seagrass, Kelp grows up to 26 blocks tall, making it useful for natural ocean landscaping.

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Where Can Kelp Plants Be Found?

Kelp naturally generates in oceans, specifically in:

• Deep Oceans
• Cold Oceans
• Lukewarm Oceans

It does not generate in Warm Oceans, which are home to coral reefs instead. Players can also farm Kelp by:

• Breaking an existing Kelp Plant – This drops Kelp items, which can be replanted in water.
• Using Bone Meal on Kelp – This instantly increases its height, making it useful for fast-growing kelp farms.

Kelp can be harvested manually or using automated piston-based farms to create an infinite supply.

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What Can Players Do with Kelp Plants?

Kelp is a versatile plant with multiple uses in farming, smelting, and underwater mechanics:

• Dried Kelp (Food Source) – Smelting Kelp creates Dried Kelp, a low-saturation food that can be eaten quickly.
• Dried Kelp Blocks (Fuel Source) – Crafted from 9 Dried Kelp, these blocks are an efficient smelting fuel that lasts longer than Coal.
• Composting – Kelp has a 30% chance to increase compost level in a Composter, making it useful for Bone Meal farming.
• Water Elevators – Kelp can convert Water Source Blocks into bubble columns, allowing players to build efficient Soul Sand or Magma Block elevators.

Additionally, Kelp naturally slows movement when swimming through it, which can be used for underwater obstacle courses or PvP traps.

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The History of Kelp Plants in Minecraft

Kelp was introduced in Minecraft Java Edition 1.13 (Update Aquatic), expanding ocean biomes with new plants, mobs, and terrain generation. Before this update, oceans were mostly empty, but Kelp and Seagrass made them more dynamic and realistic.

Over time, Kelp became an essential renewable fuel source, with Dried Kelp Blocks lasting longer than Coal or Charcoal in Furnaces.

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Interesting Fact or Real-Life Connection

Kelp in Minecraft is based on real-world kelp forests, which are some of the most productive and biodiverse ecosystems on Earth. Kelp grows rapidly in shallow coastal waters, providing food and shelter for marine life. Similarly, in Minecraft, Kelp grows quickly and serves as a sustainable resource for fuel and food.

For more details on ocean plants, farming mechanics, and underwater survival, visit the Rusty Ingot knowledge base.