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Repotting guide

When & how to repot teff grass (Eragrostis tef)

Also called teff grass, teff, Williams lovegrass, annual teff.

More about teff grass

About teff grass

Eragrostis tef · also called teff grass, teff · edible

Teff is a warm-season annual cereal grass originating in Ethiopia and Eritrea, where its tiny nutritious grains are the primary ingredient of injera flatbread. The smallest cereal grain in the world, teff is gluten-free, rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, and dietary fibre. Grown as an edible grain crop, hay, or cover crop and harvested within 45–90 days of sowing.

Mature size: 60–90 cm tall; individual plant spread 15–30 cm; typically grown in dense stands at 2–10 kg seed/acre

How to tell teff grass needs repotting

Repotting on a calendar is less reliable than reading the plant. For teff grass, watch for these signs:

For the underlying biology of a pot-bound root system and why it stalls a plant, see our guide to spotting and fixing a root-bound plant.

How often to repot teff grass

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot. teff grassis grown for one season, so the question is really “how often to pot on” — keep moving it up before the roots circle. Upright, tufted annual grass reaching 60–90 cm tall with fine, narrow leaf blades and open, multi-branched panicles bearing thousands of tiny seeds on fine, hair-like branches. Stems are slender and may lodge (fall over) in heavy rain or wind if over-fertilised or over-irrigated. Completes its life cycle from seed to harvest in 45–90 days..

What size pot to step teff grass up to

Pot teff grass on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check.

Not sure of the exact diameter? Our pot size calculator takes the current pot and root spread and tells you the right next size — it deliberately recommends a single step up, never a big jump.

The best time of year to repot teff grass

Pot teff grass on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Step-by-step: repotting teff grass

  1. Pot on before it is root-bound. Check teff grass regularly; move it up as soon as roots reach the edge of the cell or pot, not after they have circled.
  2. Step up one or two sizes. Choose the next container up — not a giant one. Cold, wet, unused soil around a small root system stalls seedlings.
  3. Knock it out gently. Support the stem, tip the pot, and ease the rootball out without breaking it. A little teasing of circled roots at the base is fine.
  4. Pot into rich mix. Set it into fresh well-drained, moderately fertile loam or sandy loam with a firm seedbed; ph 6.0–7.0 at the same depth (tomatoes are the exception — they can go deeper to root along the stem).
  5. Water in and grow on. Water well, keep it in good light, and resume feeding once it is established and growing again.

Aftercare

Water teff grass in well and keep it in bright light; a freshly potted-on seedling can wilt for a day while roots settle, so do not overcompensate by drowning it. Do not fertilise for about 1 week — fresh mix already carries nutrients and feeding freshly disturbed roots scorches them.

The right soil mix for teff grass

teff grass wants well-drained, moderately fertile loam or sandy loam with a firm seedbed; ph 6.0–7.0. Adapts to a wide range of soil types including clay, loam, and sandy soils. Requires a very firm, fine seedbed for reliable germination as the seeds are extremely small (less than 1 mm diameter). Ideal soil pH is 6.0–6.5. Avoid compacted or crusted soils that prevent the tiny seeds from establishing contact with moist soil particles. Always use fresh mix when you repot — reusing old, broken-down soil reintroduces the compaction and poor drainage you are repotting to fix.

Repotting teff grass — frequently asked questions

How often should you repot teff grass?

Pot on seedlings as they grow; not a perennial repot for teff grass. teff grass is a seasonal crop, so you pot it on as a growing plant rather than repotting a perennial. Step seedlings up gradually into well-drained, moderately fertile loam or sandy loam with a firm seedbed; ph 6.0–7.0 so the roots never circle the cell, ending in a large final container. A root-bound transplant stalls and never fully recovers.

What size pot does teff grass need?

Pot teff grass on gradually — a seedling jumped straight into a huge pot sits in cold, wet, airless soil and stalls. Step up one or two sizes at a time as the roots fill each container, finishing in a large final pot or the ground. The aim is roots that never circle and never check. Use our pot size calculator to size it from the plant's current pot and root spread.

When is the best time of year to repot teff grass?

Pot teff grass on through the active growing season, whenever roots fill the current container — there is no single date, just "before it becomes root-bound". Avoid potting on during a cold snap.

Can you put teff grass straight into a much bigger pot?

No. Even a fast-growing teff grass should only go up one pot size at a time. A vastly oversized pot holds a reservoir of wet soil the roots cannot reach, which stays cold and soggy and rots the roots — the opposite of what you wanted.

Should you fertilise teff grass after repotting?

Not immediately. Wait about 1 week after repotting teff grass. Fresh mix already contains nutrients, and feeding freshly cut or disturbed roots burns them. Resume your normal feeding routine once you see new growth.

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