phal with brown "bubbles" on the leaves

[robb]

one of my rescued phals (almost dead when i got it) put out a new leaf, but no new roots. i trimmed the roots back when i re-potted immediately after purchase, but there has been no new root growth, and the one leaf is really small (about 3cm long). recently the tip of the oldest leaf turned yellow and black, and small brown bubbles appeared on the top and bottom of the leaf. the bubbles are approximately 2mm in diameter, and are hard. when crushed, there is a white, fluffy strand inside, easily crushed. it does not appear to be a pupae of some sort, but I'm not an entomologist i pulled the plant out, and there are no rotten roots, just the ones i left from the initial trimming (no new growth though, and i think they were all dead to begin with). so far I've quarantined the plant pending it's survival. is there anything else i should do with the plant? any ideas what the brown bubbles are? i suspect this phal is destined for the great garden in the sky, but i would like to try to save it, if possible.

i have repotted it in with a bit of soil, going to try to keep it more damp, but i don't think the roots are functional at this point.

took these pictures about 30 minutes ago:
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/gallery/s...hp?i=1574&c=17
http://www.orchidgeeks.com/gallery/s...hp?i=1573&c=17

[mayres]

Small brown "bubbles" that will crush and have whte fluffy stuff inside sounds like SCALE. You will want to pick off all the ones you see and then also spray with something like Bayer Rose and Flower Spray ore Worm Tea. Good luck - mike

[Tobi]

Robb,
Is it possible to post a pic of the brown bubbles? Just a guess, but it could be
a scale infection although I've never heard of a white fluffy strand inside.

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Ditto on scale.