Little brown lumps on stem
 

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Hello! My name is Alanna - this is my first post here. I have two phals - one that seems to be doing great, and another that I just rescued...not sure if there is any hope for that one yet!

The one that is doing well dropped all its blooms about 4-6 weeks ago, and has had a LOT of new root growth. I cut and sealed the stem about halfway down after the last bloom fell off. A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a couple of brown lumps at the top of the stem, one right in the area under the sheath of an old blossom. I assumed that this was a new keiki growing. However, I noticed some tiny white mites crawling on the top of the stem, and started to get concerned. I lightly touched one of the brown lumps, and it didn't seem to be firmly attached to the stem - it gave way a bit.

I have attached a photo of these lumps, which also shows the tiny white mites. Can you tell me if this is something that is supposed to happen, or if there is something going wrong with my phal? Thank you in advance!!!!

Welcome to the boards! :) To me, that looks like scale - which you don't want! Pick them off and dab the area with a bit of rubbing alcohol and remove as you see them/cut off the spike if it's done flowering :hmm Someone else may see something different though, so stay tuned!

I would agree....looks like soft brown scale. Cut all of the remaining flower spike(s) back to the base of the plant; it will grow a new flower spike this fall/winter as long as the plant stays healthy. The alcohol thing works but I like something more substancial, like Bayer 3in1 or any of the Safer products....you have to kill off the juveniles because they crawl and set up house elsewhere on your plant....just google "scale" and you'll find lots of info

Thank you very much for your help! I'm so glad I found this board...I will be back often!

Agree, SCALE! Also lightly spray the soil surface too.

look at this
Scale

Yup, scale. Nasty stuff, and you want to control it before it gets out of hand. I've gotten rid of it in the past by using cotton balls soaked in rubbing alcohol and washing the plant where the scale has infested. Make sure you get it all!