Plant Care Italian Millet

Italian Millet

Also known as

Foxtail millet, Foxtail millet, Dwarf setaria, Foxtail bristle-grass, Giant setaria, Green foxtail, Italian millet, German millet and Hungarian millet

Taxonomy

Setaria italica
Setaria
Poaceae
Poales

How to care for Italian Millet

💦 Water

How often to water your Italian Millet

Water needs for Italian Millet
0.5 cups
every 9

Italian Millet needs 0.5 cups of water every 9 when it doesn’t get direct sunlight and is potted in a 5" pot.

Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Calculate water needs of Italian Millet

Water 0.5 cups every
9

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

Select the pot size

5"
☀️ Light

Finding light for Foxtail millet in your home

Light needs and placement for plant Italian Millet: 1ft from a window
1ft or less from
a window

Italian Millet love being close to bright, sunny windows 😎.

Place it less than 1ft from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

Italian Millet does not tolerate low-light 🚫.

Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement of Italian Millet in your home 🏡.

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Italian Millet

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Italian Millet: repot after 2X growth

Most potting soils come with ample nutrients which plants use to produce new growth.

By the time your plant has depleted the nutrients in its soil it’s likely grown enough to need a larger pot anyway.

To replenish this plant's nutrients, repot your Italian Millet after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs
💦 Water Needs

Italian Millet prefers for the soil to dry out between waterings and should be watered regularly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

Foxtail millet Water Frequency →

Foxtail millet Root Rot →


☀️ Sunlight Needs

Italian Millet requires abundant, bright and direct light. Place it less than one foot from a window to ensure it receives enough light to survive 💪. Select your region to see how the current weather in your area affects the placement in your home 🏡.

Foxtail millet Light Requirements →

Foxtail millet Direct Sunlight Needs & Tolerance →


🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Italian Millet is not known to cause harm to humans or pets. Regardless, if you, a family member, a cat, or dog has ingested any plant material, please consult a doctor or a veterinarian.

Is Foxtail millet Edible? →

Foxtail millet Toxicity to Cats →

Foxtail millet Toxicity to Dogs →

Foxtail millet Toxicity to Humans →


🪴 Soil

Italian Millet does best in well-draining soil. A good soil will contain lots of organic matter such as coco coir as well as perlite or vermiculite to help with drainage. Adding a handful of perlite to regular store-bought potting soil should do the trick!

Best Soil Mix for Foxtail millet →

Best Pots for Foxtail millet →

When and How to Successfully Repot Foxtail millet →

What Are Healthy Foxtail millet Roots →


💩 Fertilizer

Italian Millet is a fast growing plant and may deplete the nutrients in its soil over time. Replenish them with a gentle organic fertilizer or compost every 1-2 months depending on your location and season. Fertilize more often during the growing season and in warmer and brighter climates.

How Much and When to Fertilize Foxtail millet →


🌦️ Growing Outdoors
🍂 Yellow Leaves

Yellow leaves aren’t always a reason to panic, and can be a normal part of a plant’s life cycle. Unless brand new leaves are turning yellow or all the leaves change color at once, it’s likely just your plant shedding old leaves.

Overwatering and root rot are the most likely cause of problems in Italian Millet, since they are sensitive to wet soil. The leaves may also appear to be curling or drooping. Less often, yellow leaves are caused by underwatering, nutrient deficiencies, or pests.

Replace soggy soil with fresh, dry soil and download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!


🧐 Troubleshooting

When troubleshooting a sad-looking houseplant, start by checking for signs of distress in its leaves, such as yellowing, browning, or drooping, which can indicate overwatering or nutrient deficiencies.

Inspect the soil moisture; too dry or too wet soil can cause problems.

Ensure the plant is getting the right amount of light, as too much or too little can stress it.

Finally, consider environmental factors like temperature and humidity, and adjust care routines accordingly to revive your plant.


Care Summary for Italian Millet

Italian Millet

Italian Millet


Greg recommends:

Water

0.5 cups every 9 days

Placement

< 1ft from a window

Nutrients

Repot after 2x growth

Based on the 4” pot your plant is in, and that it doesn’t get direct sunlight.

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