Soggy Stems, what could it be?

[pather]

Hi, I have two orchids that are giving me the same problem. One of them is potted in a group of 6 or 7 stems and 2 of the stems have turned yellow and gotten REALLY soggy (as if they were rotting). But I don't think it's because of over-watering it, cause if not ALL the stems would be soggy; it's only those 2 stems. And the same thing is happening with another one that is only 1 stem and I have it in a hanging basket, tied with a small piece of tie wrap and a little bit of sphangus moss, so I know it gets good ventilation. It can't be because of overwatering. WHAT COULD IT BE? Please help if you have any info. I'd hate to let them slowly die. =...(

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

For the big plant, I am assuming it is a Dendrobium and the stems are the canes. Look at the growth pattern. There should be a single line of growth from newest growth backwards to the oldest bulbs, with probably a little multiplication in kind of a "Y" form as you look from oldest growth to newest, where you would be going from the bottom of the "Y" to the top in oldest to newest. Now, if you can identify oldest and newest growths, are these yellowing canes the oldest canes? If so, count the number of canes from the newest growth backwards to the yellowing canes. This is how old they are in number of years. Canes of 5 or more years old can be expected to die normally and would not be a concern. Don't know what to make of a single cane yellowing. Is it also a Dendrobium? Maybe we need to start with what the genera of these plants are. The best would be to post a picture. Cynthia, Prescott, AZ