Split pseudobulbs? Or leave a dying bulb?

[deneb]

I acquired an oncidium odontoglossom (spelling?) about a year ago and I need advice. After trimming the dead spikes, a new pseudobulb appeared and right now there is a flower spike growing out of it. The bad news is the two older pseudobulbs started to wrinkle badly and one has started turning brown. The new bulb has also sprouted some air roots, I think? which combined with wrinkling bulbs made me wonder about the situation under the surface. I repotted it and the roots are not pure white but they didn't look horrible. My main question is about the dying bulb; it's right in the middle of all the bulbs. There are a total of four bulbs- the spiking bulb is on the outside so if I take the dying bulb off, the new bulb will be a solo. So better to leave a dying bulb on and hope it hangs in there til after flowering? or split them now and see if the growing bulb will make it all on its own? Thanks for any advice!





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[Bud]

Alliance: Oncidium
Genus: Odontoglossum
what is the tag name?

as of now don't do anything ....you might think the browning bulb is dying ....yet it might not....it might just be having moisture issues and stop wringkling after a while....you said the roots did not look horrible; but then again its an old bulb so the roots will not be white

[deneb]

Thanks. I will sit tight then and see what happens. I don't have the tag anymore, but I think it's a hybrid. I've also picked up that these guys don't like to get dry which I've been guilty of, so I hope more mindful watering in fresh medium will help.


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[astrid]

If the bulb is totally shriveled and bad, you can just twist and twist and twist it until it pops right off. I take off a bad bulb here and there.

If it's brown or just crunchy, I think it's fine to remove it. But if it's still green - even if severely wrinkled - I'd keep the bulb.

That's my opinion.