Bulbophyllum carunculatum

[BikerDoc5968]

I received this bulbophyllum back in August bare root with two spikes. Things "seemed" to be going well and over the past 10 days one of the spikes turned brown so I removed it. I just thought it blasted or the trauma of repotting caused its demise.... not happy about it but it is what it is. The other spike seems to be OK but will it ever open revealing a beautiful flower????? And is this (2nd picture) a new PB or another flower spike.....

[smweaver]

Do you have a jeweller's loupe (same thing that geologists use to study rocks when they're in the field)? If you can find one that's 10x to 20x power, take a close look at the tip of the spike. It looks like some kind of pitting to me, maybe caused by spider mites or some other smaller-than-the-eye-can-see parasite. As far as the second picture goes, that appears to be a new growth. It looks very much like the new growths look when they first appear on my Bulbophyllum echinolabium (which I think is closely related to carunculatum). Maybe someone who's much more experienced than I am with bulbos (the echinolabium's my only species from this genus) will provide better answers to your questions. Best of luck with your plant.

Steve

[BikerDoc5968]

Thanks, Steve. I just looked at the bud and it is clean so not sure why it is pitted/dimpled... just hope to see a flower! And yes you are right the nubbin at the base is probably going to be a new PB... after thinking about it, that is what my Cirr and other Bulbos look like when they first emerge.