Is this what I think it is?!

[butterfly_muse]

As the title suggests, I haven't watered my guys since Tuesday and this evening when I went to water them my oncidium seems to have thrown out a spike and its new growth has exponentially...well, grown!

Please tell me this is a spike on the plant I was convinced I'd killed?! (And a pic of his new growth for good measure)

[nikkik]

Yay! That definitely looks like a spike to me too!

[butterfly_muse]

I was totally convinced I had killed this guy lol! I repotted him and he shriveled all his pbulbs and then sulked for weeks. O.O

Is there anything different care wise I need to do for it to ensure it flowers? It's in a west facing window and it's getting less and less light every day. We're working on getting a light setup going for everyone for winter atm.

[nikkik]

When I have plants in spike I try not to change anything. When I first started growing orchids, I eagerly moved an orchid in spike to a "better location", the buds blasted and I learned my lesson. If it spiked there it likes the spot and what you're doing.

[HighSeas]

I agree with Nikkik. Don't change anything! Congratulations!

[Island Girl]

I also agree with Nikkik, you should leave it where it is happy. Congrats! That's definitely a spike!

[james mickelso]

That spike will grow well from the energy stored in the pbulb from which it comes. The new growth will put out roots soon and those need to be kept damp. Not wet. If it starts to really cool down where this plant resides then try to bring the temp back up. The new growth will stall out below 60f but that is ok as long as it doesn't stay wet. The spike will stop elongating though below 60f. A heat mat will really help.

[butterfly_muse]

Thank you everyone! I'm so excited! A couple questions... I know you guys said to leave it where it is but its starting to get cooler at night and the window faces west so it's starting to get less sunlight as well. We have been opening the windows at night and it's been getting into the 50's is that too cold? I read that a few weeks of temps in the 50s induces spiking (guess it worked)... Do I need to stop that? When it's supposed to be cooler I move them out of the window to a warmer and more protected place.. is that okay? Our daytime temps are still in the 70s so..

And do I need to maybe get it more light? This is my first winter with orchids and this orchid is my first spike ever... I'm worried that the window will lose most of its light before the spike can mature and flower. I have already noticed a pretty significant drop in the amount of time the west window gets sun.

[butterfly_muse]

Nobody?

[Polarizeme]

Your plant knows it's going into Fall. They are very light aware. It seems to like the temps and conditions you have so don't worry! Let if run it's course. As it was stated earlier, try to leave it alone or you run the risk of causing your flower spike to lose it's blooms. If you feel like it's too cold where you have it, then move it to a warmer spot, but honestly if the temps are going into the 70's during the day it should be fine with the temp drops at night.
Relax! You've done a great job with it! Good luck!