Q. "My friend Marvin said that kelp can grow as much as 2 feet per day. Is he right? I don't think so."

Oscar from San Diego, California

A. Actually Oscar, your friend is right!

Giant Kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera ) can grow up to 2 feet (0.6m) per day, under ideal conditions. In this case, "ideal conditions" means: strong sunlight; cold, nutrient rich water; and a strong holdfast which secures the giant plant (algae) to the rocky bottom. Now, ideal conditions for you to grow two feet per day would be dramatically different. You would need to eat all of your vegetables and drink many more glasses of milk each morning. ;-)

To learn more about Giant Kelp, visit the Encyclopedia of the National Marine Sanctuary Program where information on over 100 plants and animals from the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary off Southern California can be found.