Kelp

{
 "title": "Kelp",
 "rows": [
 {
 "field": "Yes",
 "label": "(link to Renewable resource article, displayed as Renewable)"
 },
 {
 "field": "Yes (64)",
 "label": "Stackable"
 },
 {
 "field": "Any tool",
 "label": "Tool"
 },
 {
 "field": "0",
 "label": "(link to Explosion#Blast resistance article, displayed as Blast resistance)"
 },
 {
 "field": "0",
 "label": "(link to Breaking#Blocks by hardness article, displayed as Hardness)"
 },
 {
 "field": "No",
 "label": "(link to Light article, displayed as Luminous)"
 },
 {
 "field": "Yes",
 "label": "(link to Opacity article, displayed as Transparent)"
 },
 {
 "field": "No",
 "label": "(link to Flammable article, displayed as Flammable)"
 },
 {
 "field": "No",
 "label": "Catches fire<br>from (link to lava article, displayed as lava)"
 },
 {
 "field": "<span style=\"white-space: nowrap;\"><span style=\"display: inline-block; background-color: rgb(64, 64, 255); border: 1px solid #888; border-radius: 0.3em; color: transparent; width: 1em; height: 1em; vertical-align: -0.36em; margin-right: -0.1em\"><br></span> 12 WATER</span>",
 "label": "(link to Map color article, displayed as Map color)"
 },
 {
 "field": "Default (Harp)",
 "label": "(link to Note Block#Instruments article, displayed as Note block instrument)"
 }
 ],
 "invimages": [
 "Kelp"
 ],
 "images": [
 "Kelp.gif"
 ]
}

Kelp is aquatic algae found in most oceans. It can be planted underwater and grows over time (though not forever) or from bone meal usage. Smelting it results in dried kelp, which is edible and craftable into dried kelp blocks.

Kelp can be mined instantly with any tool or with the player's fist. Removing water from the kelp block destroys the kelp, in Java Edition, the water cannot be removed by using a bucket. Breaking one part of a kelp stalk destroys all kelp blocks above it. Each block drops a kelp item.

Kelp naturally generates in any ocean biomes (except in frozen, deep frozen and warm), near and around seagrass. Each chunk has ¹⁄₁₈ chance to generate a vegetation of kelp.

Wandering traders may sell 1 kelp for 3 emeralds.

In Bedrock Edition, wandering traders have a chance of 8.5% (increased by 1% per level of Looting) to drop 1 kelp when killed while showing the item as trade offer, if the player holds an emerald.

Kelp can be placed underwater by hand, or anywhere by the use of commands such as /setblock. Placing it by hand gives it a random age value between 0 and 24. Kelp can be placed only in water source blocks or downward-flowing water, not horizontally flowing water.

When placed in downward-flowing water, the kelp becomes waterlogged, transforming the flowing water into a water source block,^[1] which is useful for faster bubble column elevator creation.

Any building block can be placed on top of a kelp plant, which is useful for building structures over a deep ocean without needing to build from the ocean floor (see also lily pad).

Placing kelp into a composter has a 30% chance of raising the compost level by 1.

Kelp can be planted on a broad variety of blocks. It grows underwater if it has either a source block of water or flowing water above it.^[2] Neither players nor dispensers can remove the water source block that kelp grows in without breaking the kelp first.

Kelp does not require any light level to grow. Kelp also grows without having sky access. Bone meal can be used to grow kelp by 1 block on each use.

When kelp is planted, it is generated with a randomly chosen age value, which can be checked when pressing ‌^{[Java Edition only]}. The age value of a newly planted kelp plant varies randomly from 0 to 24. Each time the kelp grows in height by one block, the newly generated top of the kelp plant increases its age by 1. When the top block of the kelp plant reaches an age of 25, it stops growing. This means that kelp can naturally grow to a height between 2 (if the first kelp plant had an age of 24) and 26 blocks (if the first kelp plant had an age of 0).

When a kelp plant block is broken, the age of the kelp plant block underneath is randomized to a value from 0 to 24 and the kelp continues growing until it reaches age 25. It is possible to use this mechanic to cultivate a kelp plant to increase its growth height beyond its natural maximum height of 26 blocks. This can be done by breaking the top-most block of the kelp plant each time it reaches age 25. A kelp plant cultivated by a player in this way repeatedly grows until it reaches the water surface.

Each time it receives a random tick, kelp has a 14% chance of growing. At default random tick speed (3), each plant grows on average every 9752 game ticks (487.6 seconds).

Using shears on the topmost block of kelp prevents further growth by setting its age value to 25.

Kelp farming is similar to farming sugar cane, although kelp must be placed underwater. Automation of harvest is easier because items float up in water source blocks.

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Java Edition

Bedrock Edition: None

Java Edition:

Bedrock Edition:

Java Edition:
Top kelp block:

Bedrock Edition:

Issues relating to "Kelp" are maintained on the bug tracker. Issues should be reported and viewed there.

• In real life, kelp is not considered a plant. It is classified by scientists as a brown algae.
  • Kelp in real life absorbs nutrients directly from the water, instead of through its root-like structure, holdfast, which merely attaches it to the seabed. This is in accordance with kelp being able to grow on almost any solid block in Minecraft.

• 👁 Kelp shown in a clip from MINECON Earth 2017.
  
  Kelp shown in a clip from MINECON Earth 2017.
• 👁 Naturally generated kelp in an ocean biome.
  
  Naturally generated kelp in an ocean biome.
• 👁 Naturally generated kelp near the shore.
  
  Naturally generated kelp near the shore.
• 👁 An ocean with kelp visible in the far distance.
  
  An ocean with kelp visible in the far distance.
• 👁 Kelp placed outside of water using the /setblock command before 18w07b.
  
  Kelp placed outside of water using the /setblock command before 18w07b.
• 👁 What kelp looks like without water (water removed using a resource pack).
  
  What kelp looks like without water (water removed using a resource pack).
• 👁 Kelp that generated in mid-air due to an ocean monument's water cutting through it.
  
  Kelp that generated in mid-air due to an ocean monument's water cutting through it.
• 👁 Multiple kelps.
  
  Multiple kelps.
• 👁 Without obstacles, kelp can grow all the way to building limit.
  
  Without obstacles, kelp can grow all the way to building limit.
• 👁 First image of kelp in Bedrock Edition.
  
  First image of kelp in Bedrock Edition.

• "Taking Inventory: Kelp" by Duncan Geere – Minecraft.net, August 27, 2020.