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Ornamental millet

UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
in Plants
I have just discovered ornamental millet and would like them to add it to my garden.  It is too late to grow from seed, I am not yet sure of my ability to do that yet, and I cannot find any plants for sale on line but did find some plugs on ebay.

I am somewhat sceptical of buying there (Should I be?) but tried my luck and bought the attached six.  They were spindly when they arrived but potted them and they have doubled in height but still spindly,

I live in London and have put them outside during the few warm days but generally still keep them inside and water them every few days  ( Another area of conflicting advice - water every day, only when top of soil is dry, once a week, only round the edges of the pot etc).

They are now 4-6 cm high but am unsure when to finally plant them outside. They dont look ready to me but what should I be looking for and with the still cold nights and mornings  what temperature should I wait for ?

Posts

  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    I can't help you with the millet but there are good sellers on ebay as well as dodgy ones, so hopefully what you got is what you thought you were getting.
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    edited June 2023
    @Unionworkeruk I grow Melica Alba. Years ago I begged a gardener for a plant, she refused because 'it goes everywhere'. In the end she agreed. It has grown in my garden for ten years and now grows along the bottom of a wall. It does seed about so I pull them up. Sells on sight in flower on a plant stall. If you like things very tidy or hate weeding not a good idea. I love it.
    Do you know which ones you have my plants are perennial. 
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    The problem is, there are several plants that are called ornamental millet, and they require very different conditions.
    Pennisetum glaucum varieties for example are very tender.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • CeresCeres Posts: 2,698
    Unionworkeruk said:

    I live in London and have put them outside during the few warm days but generally still keep them inside and water them every few days  ( Another area of conflicting advice - water every day, only when top of soil is dry, once a week, only round the edges of the pot etc).


    With regard to watering: A quote from an eminent TV gardener (Geoffrey Smith I believe) sticks in my mind.....water the edges and the middle will look after itself.
    As to when to water, the plants will let you know. It is nice to be able to stick to a routine but the plants don't have the same timetable as us humans and their needs are dependent on the weather. If it's hot then they will need water every day, sometimes more than one drenching, but if it is overcast then they may go two or more days without needing any water. Just keep an eye on them.


  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    punkdoc said:
    The problem is, there are several plants that are called ornamental millet, and they require very different conditions.
    Pennisetum glaucum varieties for example are very tender.
    Yes, That's them

  • UnionworkerukUnionworkeruk Posts: 187
    Ceres said:
    Unionworkeruk said:

    I live in London and have put them outside during the few warm days but generally still keep them inside and water them every few days  ( Another area of conflicting advice - water every day, only when top of soil is dry, once a week, only round the edges of the pot etc).


    With regard to watering: A quote from an eminent TV gardener (Geoffrey Smith I believe) sticks in my mind.....water the edges and the middle will look after itself.
    As to when to water, the plants will let you know. It is nice to be able to stick to a routine but the plants don't have the same timetable as us humans and their needs are dependent on the weather. If it's hot then they will need water every day, sometimes more than one drenching, but if it is overcast then they may go two or more days without needing any water. Just keep an eye on them.



    That makes sense to me, I read that if you water the edges only, then the roots will have to grow looking for it. A certain logic but.........
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