keiki bud has developed a white sheath over it and is stunted.
 

why did this happen?

Picture please.

that is the picture i can't really get close enough to it with my phone without it getting blurry.

No picture... to upload a photo, choose "Go Advanced" from the Reply dialog box, then scroll down to Manage Attachments. Browse to the file and select Upload.

Thanks Roberta! I thought my eyes were having a senior moment. 😆

Either than or we both are... Actually, there's what looks like a broken link in the original post. So it's "Try again" time...

ok got it uploaded lol

Ah. That looks like a nobile-type Dendrobium. It is pretty much dormant now, but that looks like the beginnings of a flower bud (or maybe more than one) These bloom on bare canes, before the loaves or at about the same time in the spring.

The picture didn't show the bottom but it's detached from the mother plant. it's just a single cane.

Pot it up (small bark or sphagnum, your choice) and just ignore it until you start to see new growth/buds. If the cane starts to shrivel you can add a bit of water to the medium (hopefully there are a few roots, if not, you'll need some to grow for water to be of any use)