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Climbing Onion

About Climbing Onion

This plant has a large, exposed, green, scaly bulb with slender, twining, leafless, green stems and small, green-white flowers. It's grown as a houseplant or interiorscape "curiosity" plant.

Taxonomy

Scientific name

Bowiea volubilis

Genus

Bowiea

Family

Asparagaceae

Order

Asparagales

How to care for Climbing Onion

💦 Water

How often to water your Climbing Onion

Climbing Onion needs 0.5 cups of water every 12 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.

Water 0.5 cups every
12

Does your plant get direct sunlight?

No Yes

Select the pot size

☀️ Light

Finding light for Climbing Onion in your home

Climbing Onion may have difficulty thriving, and will drop leaves 🍃, without ample sunlight.

Place it less than 3 feet from a south-facing window to maximize the potential for growth.

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

🪴 Nutrients

How to fertilize Climbing Onion

Nutrient, fertilizer, and repotting needs for Climbing Onion: 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 Climbing Onion after it doubles in size or once a year—whichever comes first.

💡 FAQs

💦 Water Needs

Climbing Onion thrives in dry soil and should be watered sparingly. Use our water calculator to personalize watering recommendations to your environment or download Greg for more advanced recommendations for all of your plants.

🐶 🐈 👶 Toxicity

Climbing Onion is extremely dangerous if consumed. If you, a family member, or a pet has ingested any amount of plant material contact Poison Control, US (800) 222-1222, or your veterinarian immediately. Climbing Onion is not recommended for homes with children, cats, or dogs.

🌸 Flowers

Climbing Onion produces flowers in the wild, but does not flower when kept as houseplants.

🌦️ Growing Outdoors

USDA Hardiness Zone
Climbing Onion can be grown outdoors in USDA Hardiness Zones 9a-11b. Find your local hardiness zone here.

🧐 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.

😖 Common Issues

Overwatering is a likely cause of issues with Climbing Onion. These plants are very sensitive to wet soil so if you notice your plant becoming squishy or translucent, overwatering is the likely culprit.

Cut your plant just past where the rot ends and allow it to callus over for a few days before replanting it in fresh, dry soil. Download Greg to make sure your plant never gets overwatered again!