How to Grow and Care for Millet

Millet, commonly called pearl millet, is an ornamental plant used to add height and a splash of color to gardens. The plant is leafy with an upright growth habit, producing long, slender deep purple foliage, stems, and flower plumes. Millet grows best in hot climates, but not necessarily humid climates, and requires full sun and moist, neutral soil. If you leave seed heads on the flower spikes to mature and dry out, your backyard birds will feast on the pearl-like seeds, as millet is a popular grain used in birdseed mixes.

Millet Care

Here are the main care requirements for growing millet.

• Plant this fast-growing grass in the late spring or early summer when the soil is consistently warmed to 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Plant in full sun.
• Keep well-draining soil evenly moist, not waterlogged.
• Treat only new plants to fertilizer.

Light

All cultivars of Pennisetum glaucum thrive in full sun. The plant will tolerate partial shade, but won't look as dramatic in its color.

Soil

Ornamental millet is an easy-going plant. Millet tolerates high salt, high or low soil pH, and it can be grown in infertile soil. It can sustain itself in drier soils and drought. It does prefer good drainage—millet has some issues with becoming waterlogged. 

Water

Pennisetum glaucum is not overly thirsty, and water needs can be aided by a good layer of mulch. Millet thrives with 1 inch of water per week through rainfall or irrigation.

Temperature and Humidity

Ornamental millet is not cold-hardy, rather it is a hot climate, warm-season plant. It withstands dry weather and harsh sun. Higher temperatures result in faster growth and taller plants. As long as the soil is kept evenly moist, high humidity is not required.

Fertilizer

It is a good idea to treat ornamental millet with a feeding of 15-0-15 fertilizer once when you first transplant it or after emergence if the seeds were directly sown. For the amount to use, follow product label instructions.

Types of Millet

Some pearl millet types produce grain while others are purely ornamental. Here are a few more types of ornamental millet to choose from for your garden:

• 'Purple Majesty': The iconic millet hybrid is often called "tall, dark, and handsome" because of its deep purple foliage and plumes that reach a full height of 5 feet; plumes grow 8 to 15 inches tall and are covered in golden pollen when in bloom.
• 'Purple Barron': Though it looks like 'Purple Majesty', this is a more compact hybrid that grows to 3 feet and with darker leaves, making it a good container plant.
• 'Purple Jester': This compact pearl millet has more variegated foliage of burgundy, green, and chartreuse.
• 'Jade Princess': Chartreuse foliage reaches only 2 feet in height; the flower spikes are pollen-free; this smaller type is also often used for container gardens.

How to Grow Millet From Seed

Pearl millet is propagated with seeds. If you plan to plant seeds, they can be started inside in trays 45 days before frost and hardened to the cooler weather. It is fast-growing and will take only 60 days for the plant to go from seed to flower.

1. Direct sowing of the seeds can be done when the danger of frost has passed, but the soil needs to be sufficiently warm for germination to occur.
2. If planting indoors, plant seeds indoors in starter trays filled with normal potting soil.
3. Plant seeds 1 to 3 inches down from the top for best germination though if you go deeper, seedlings will still likely emerge.
4. Keep the soil moist but not soaked.
5. Move to larger pots as the plants outgrow their starter trays to avoid the millet becoming root-bound.

Common Pests & Plant Diseases

Aphids and spider mites will feed on ornamental millet. Eradicate them with insecticidal soap. Plants may be riddled with wireworms, which can be removed by hand, biological control, or insecticides.

Be on the lookout for the following diseases: ergot (a fungus), cercosporin leaf spot (brown and tan blotches on leaves), downy mildew (a fungus caused by wet foliage), leaf rust (appears where it's humid), and smut (which also appears on corn). Fungicides will help with these issues.

How to Get Millet to Bloom

Bloom Months

Millet blooms throughout the early and late summer months, from June through September.

What Do Millet Flowers Look and Smell Like?

Ornamental millet flower plumes look like a cross between a purple or maroon cornstalk and cattail. Some forms have white or cream inflorescences. Some cultivars, like 'Purple Majesty" may have a sweet fragrance while other types of millet flowers have no scent.

How to Encourage More Blooms

Full sun, warm air, and warm soil will all contribute to more blooms on your millet plants.

Deadheading Millet

Deadheading millet spikes will prevent seeds from forming and keep the plant in bloom longer. Stop deadheading when you are ready to let the seedheads dry for your backyard birds.

Common Problems With Millet

Millet is easy to grow, but it can encounter a couple of problems that can be fixed.

Lackluster Color

Pearl millet's richest color purple and maroon leaves are achieved in full sun, and planting these cultivars in any other light conditions will not do them justice.

Poor Growth

There are a couple of reasons why you may not have robust growth. The seeds or plants from the nursery may have been placed in soil that was too cool or wet for them to thrive. Another issue is weeds; pearl millet cannot compete with weeds for nutrients. Weed control is important for better-growing pearl millet.