picture number 2

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1298425}}

Those look like abrasions rather than disease... the blister-like growths are normal (they would turn into additional roots if the stems were on moist ground).

If you take a pocketknife and skin the brown streak off, what do you find underneath? If the stem is a healthy pale green just under the surface, I'd chalk this up to something rubbing against the stem. Canker goes deeper, and it is usually found near the soil line, not further up the plant. By the time it gets higher up, the whole plant is wilting pretty badly.

The crispy brown leaves may be from the plants drying out (maybe you had a touch of the heat waves we've had down here?), or if they're lower/internal leaves, they may die as they're shaded out. If you keep having trouble with it, you might post a picture of the leaves so that we can try to figure it out.

--Alison

Allison..

Definately no heat wave here. We've been struggling to maintain 60 degrees lately. We've dipped into the upper 40's at night even, but are usually in the mid 50's during the day.
You're probably right about the abrasions... I can't seem to keep them from growing very firmly onto the cages.