Picked this plant up in November 2002 on a trip to Fl. It was planted in
osmunda and had two old pseudobulbs with leaves and two new growths. I
replanted into a medium bark mixture and the plant seemed to be doing well in
my intermediate temperature greenhouse. Over the past several months the
remaining leaves on the old bulbs turned brown and fell off, this is typical,
and the two new growths continued to grow normally.

Over the past month or so the old bulbs have begun to turn soft brown from the
top down.

Any ideas what might be causing this? Should the old bulbs be cut off near
their base? The new growths have not begun to form pseudobulbs.

I live in SC and have a 20" basket of Coelogyne pandurata. They are rampant
growers. The wire basket is lined with coconut fiber and potted with a mix
of #3sponge rock, large coconut husk chips and a healthy helping of coconut
dust (coir). There is good moisture retention with excellent drainage. The
backbulbs eventually dry up, never go soft and brown. I'd suspect a brown
rot such as Erwinia. If that's the case, I don't see where there is much
choice other than to cut off the 2 rotting bulbs, treat the cut with your
choice of fungicide/bactericide (mine is Physan with a sulfur dust), and
hope for the best. By the way, the old leaves do brown and fall, but in my
experience, only after several new growths have matured. My 3 year old bulb
leaves are just beginning to show signs of age and deterioration. Hope it
makes it. Mine has just sent up flower spikes now 1 1/2 feet long. Hope this
helps.

"TRAINMAN9" wrote in message
...
Picked this plant up in November 2002 on a trip to Fl. It was planted in
osmunda and had two old pseudobulbs with leaves and two new growths. I
replanted into a medium bark mixture and the plant seemed to be doing well
in
my intermediate temperature greenhouse. Over the past several months the
remaining leaves on the old bulbs turned brown and fell off, this is
typical,
and the two new growths continued to grow normally.

Over the past month or so the old bulbs have begun to turn soft brown from
the
top down.

Any ideas what might be causing this? Should the old bulbs be cut off near
their base? The new growths have not begun to form pseudobulbs.