Will my onions recover from drooping?

If it is just from lack of water, they will perk up within a few hours of a good drink. If the roots are damaged by pests, they likely will not recover.

Do they need full sun?

Yes, spring onions need direct, full sun to grow properly. If they are in too much shade, they may grow weak and droop more easily.

Why are my spring onions drooping? Causes and fixes

Check these first

Check if the soil is dry to the touch.
Gently tug on the plant to see if it is loose in the ground.
Examine the base of the bulb for signs of tunneling.

Likely causes

Underwatering
Most likely
How to tell: The soil is dry and crumbly, and the leaves look limp and thin.
What to do: Give the plants a deep soak immediately. Maintain a schedule of watering every 2 to 4 days to keep the soil consistently moist.
Onion Maggots
Possible
How to tell: The plant wilts suddenly and the bulb shows signs of decay or tunneling.
What to do: Pull up and destroy infested plants to prevent the larvae from spreading. Rotate your crops next season to a different part of the garden.

Drooping in other plants

Find out what's wrong with your welsh onion

The list above covers the usual causes. Pocket Botanist looks at a photo of your actual plant and tells you the likely cause, how serious it is, and what to try first. Identification and a health check are free.

When to worry

If the plant wilts suddenly and does not recover after a good watering, you likely have a pest problem. This is serious and usually requires removing the plant.

Stopping it coming back

Use row covers to prevent adult flies from laying eggs near your onions. Keep the soil evenly moist to help the plants stay strong.

Welsh onion: drooping? Check yours with a photo

Every plant is a little different. Take a photo of your welsh onion and Pocket Botanist tells you which cause is most likely, how serious it is, and what to try first. A few checks a day are free. Save the plant and you get care reminders timed for it.

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Questions people ask

Will my onions recover from drooping?: If it is just from lack of water, they will perk up within a few hours of a good drink. If the roots are damaged by pests, they likely will not recover.
Do they need full sun?: Yes, spring onions need direct, full sun to grow properly. If they are in too much shade, they may grow weak and droop more easily.

Guides to these causes

Dehydration

Why are my spring onions drooping?