black on pseudobulb?

[stefpix]

Hi
I have an Encyclia tampensis I got a couple of months ago.

seems to grow ok - longer leaves / new roots but what looks like the oldest pseudobulb has some strange reticulation and is darker in color.

I wonder if it may be fungus [ I sprayed fungicide as a precaution].
If it is should i just remove that pseudobulb?
the other pseudobulbs look healthy and new to my eye.
It came like this when I purchased it. just now looks slightly more wrinkly.

Also my Dendrobium spectabile has one pseudobulb with a dent and looks a bit darker.
The plant looks over all healthy, growing a new cane and new roots.
I attach photos -
I hope if that look is pseudobulb look is aging...

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

If that pseudobulb on the Encyclia isn't soft and squirting out water, it might just be getting old.

Dendrobium formosum on the other hand doesn't look so good. I think there may be some rot happening. Not sure.

Maybe others have opinions.

[stefpix]

thanks for your opinion
pseudobulb on encyclia is had. i scratched a tiny bit and underneath that dark crust is healthy green.

the Den formosum looks healthy except just in that spot. it is growing new canes and roots and all the other PBs look healthy.
Is spraying with fungicide [spectracide ] enough? or should i cut that cane off? it has probably 7 / 8 canes so maybe better cut off in doubt?
or maybe cut around the black spot and leave the cane?
thanks

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

See if the spraying is helping. If it gets larger try burning the area (branding it). If that doesn't help and it gets worse, remove the pseudobulb.

[stefpix]

Thanks
I probed that spot with the tip of a knife and it fees hard not mushy.
for branding what would you use? a heated screwdriver or a soldering iron? would it hurt the plant?

does the fungicide get absorbed or does it acro only on the very surface?

[King_of_orchid_growing:)]

I'm not the one to talk about fungicides. So others may be able to say.

All I know is that it may depend on what kind of fungicide you're using.

As for branding...

I wouldn't use any old soldering iron. Some soldering irons are too hot and don't have temperature regulators.

A heated pair of cutters, scissors, screwdriver, knife, bolt, whatever metal, will work. The requirements being that you can handle it safely without burning yourself, you can handle it sufficiently to be able to maneuver without injuring the non-affected areas of the plant (it'd be good to use something that you don't mind messing up as well), and that it won't melt under the heat.

[stefpix]

thanks - have some cheap screw driver and a small cheap soldering iron.
not sure if the soldering iron gets that hot. does not turn red...
higher temperature could be actually be ok