Oh that's a nice one. I had that ugly rust appear on a couple of my EOs and I wish I knew how to avoid it too.

That brown disfiguration was discussed on a forum where I am a regular poster. Seems it affects plants in habitat as well.

Al

Mine has that same rusty look towards the base . I've heard the same about it occuring in habitat too. But i have seen some larger plants in cultivation w/o the rusty base. Also I have one that was rotted when I bought it , so I grafted it . The grafted plant does not have any of the rust on it so far. I'm wondering if it has to do with more air circulation around the base. I wish i had another plant(on its own roots) I could set raised up higher in the pot and see what happens in a year or two .