Is this a root or flower spike?

[Plants2295]

Wow, I am so impressed with how experienced everyone seems to be on this forum. I am very new to orchids and plants in general. I bought my first one 7 months ago in October. At that time it was in bloom. Since then the blooms fell off and I have repotted it and it is growing new roots and a new leaf. I think this is probably a root, but I haven't lost hope that I might have a flower spike growing between the leaves. Does anyone with more experience know what this is? I have not been giving it conditions conducive to flower spikes, as the temp is not cool at night. Let me know what you think! Also, I'll update when it declares itself.

[Roberta]

First, Welcome!
Photo is too small and distant to get a good look at the new addition... maybe you can get a closer shot?

[Mountaineer370]

Welcome to the Orchid Board! I am unable to say for sure from that one photo. From what I can see, my guess would be a root, but it's possibly a spike. It's in the right place for a spike, underneath the second leaf from the top, the most common location for a spike to appear on a Phalaenopsis. However, a spike will show a mitten shape on the end, and what I see looks pretty round and smooth. Still, it's a pretty tiny nub, and that mitten shape could start to show soon.

FWIW, I grow a number of Phals, I don't do temperature drops in my house, and they still bloom for me -- well, most of them, but that's a story for another time and another thread.

Keep us posted!

[Plants2295]

Thank you Roberta! I took some more pictures from different angles. Are these good?

[Plants2295]

Thank you Cheri! That is good to know! I guess I knew it was probably too good to be true. But another root is also a good thing too, so I'll take what I can get.

[Roberta]

It does look like a root. But roots are good! The more you have, the healthier the plant, and it will bloom when it's ready. If it was in bloom in October, that's a clue as to when it might bloom again (though growers can dink with the blooming cycle by adjusting light and temperature, since the plant that is in bloom the week before Christmas or Mother's Day is worth more than one that blooms the week after) For the hobbyist, any bloom time is a good time... So the time may be different, just be patient. (But that's where the notion of temperature change to induce blooming came from... it can be a trigger, but left to its own devices the plant will bloom anyway, at a time that is natural to it)

[Plants2295]

Thank you both so much! I did not know that I don't need to make it cool at night in order to bloom. So I'll just keep taking care of it as is and hope to see a real flower spike most likely in the fall. Thanks for all the help, I will also stop checking it twice a day to see if it's a flower spike now lol.

[Mountaineer370]

It looks like a root to me, too, but as Roberta says, that's good, too! Many orchid hobbyists do provide a cool-down to induce spikes, and that's great if one can do it. Maybe mine would produce more spikes or more flowers if I cut the temps, but it's not something I'm willing to do in my house. I don't have a separate plant room; they live in my kitchen/dining room and my master bedroom, and I'm not one to freeze at night. So, if you also have reasons you may not be able to provide the cool-down, don't despair. As you say, just continue to provide good care, and I suspect you will be rewarded with a spike later in the year.

[Roberta]

When I first got started with orchids, I was growing my Phals in the house. It was naturally a bit cooler in the fall and winter. (Why would I pay to heat the house to August temperatures in December??) That was sufficient. The bigger factor, I found, was to use supplemental lights to give the Phals more hours of light (like about 12 hours).

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