Black Spots on p-bulbs?

[Shaydra]

My mom called me tonight and I had her send me some photos. She bought a large Blc. Momilani Rainbow 'The Gypsy' last weekend that's 23" high in a 6" pot, something like 20 p-bulbs and 3 sheaths. When she peeled the brown 'wrapping paper' from one of the p-bulbs (because it was black-brown) she found the bulb also had a black patch on it. This one is the oldest pbulb and the leaf is fine other than being a bit bent and having a tiny bit of what I thought was old sunburn at the tip. She says all 3 of the new growths have the blackened paper. The spot on the pbulb is not squishy - it's shiny and smooth.

We're wondering if this is something to be concerned about? She's had this plant only a week! (I'd have her join and post, but she's on ugly-slow dialup. :P ) I whited out the name of the place she got it - Mom used the tag to focus (her camera likes me better :P ).

[Diane]

That looks like old damage on the p-bulb. I wouldn't worry. I do remove the dried sheaths as soon as p-bulbs are mature so they don't trap water or provide homes for pests.

[Shaydra]

Ok, thanks! So it should be ok for her to take off the rest of the paper on those other bulbs, then? She was afraid to do it after finding that icky spot under the one. She's afraid she's going to hurt the plant (in spite of both the breeder and me telling her otherwise). :P

One of the 3 bud sheaths has opened up into nothing more than another leaf. Is this a hydration issue? Or a light issue? (She really only has an ENE window.) She says the medium is dry as a bone every 3 days. She also noted that a few of the pbulbs that were a little wrinkled when she got it have plumped up a little more since she started that kind of a schedule.

[Brutal_Dreamer]

SUre. It will be fine. Better to remove that stuff so that it doesn't hold water and make a place for pests.

Cheers,
BD