Orchid with no roots just sprouted new flower spike??

[snbridenbaugh]

So, obviously, a newbie here. This is the first orchid I've ever had and I'm amazed it has survived. But a while back the roots stayed too wet for too long and the poor thing ended up with root rot. All of the roots died. It had already bloomed so I was just going to let it live out its days until it died. Well, today I went to check on it and, as expected, the flower spike is dead and there are no new roots but there is a new flower spike growing now! I guess my questions are:
1. How is that even possible?
2. What can I do to promote root growth?
3. Can it just be a little "relic flower spike" that was growing before it really died died? That doesn't seem like an efficient use of a plant's final energy...

[Roberta]

That looks to me like a new root! Bravo! I would suggest potting it up in large bark (in that basket is fine) because in that environment you can water frequently (which will provide humidity to encourage root growth) without letting the plant stay too wet.

[snbridenbaugh]

So it's not a flower spike? Is it an aerial root?

[murph7]

aerial root until it goes inside the potting media

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by snbridenbaugh

So it's not a flower spike? Is it an aerial root?

Yup... nice green tip, with white behind it. These orchids in nature produce mostly aerial roots - they're epiphytes, growing on trees in warm, humid environments (like the Philippines) They love humidity, and the opportunity to dry out after being rained upon. If you add large bark to that basket, and water every few days, you'll get happy roots that cling to the wood of the basket. With large bark in that open basket, it's pretty impossible to over-water.

[jkofferdahl]

That's a root, yes.

Sometimes, though, a plant facing death WILL shoot up a spike. It does so in a last-ditch effort to reproduce.

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by murph7

aerial root until it goes inside the potting media

The root will seek the environment where it is happy. So if the potting media gives humidity, it will tend to work its way down there. If the media is airless and soggy, the root will stay in the air gasping for breath. So in an environment where the plant is happy, there really isn't much of a distinction between "aerial" and root into the media... but bottom line is that all the roots want moisture with lots of air, and will do what it takes to get that.

[estación seca]

Welcome to the Orchid Board!

That is what roots look like when they emerge from a Phalaenopsis or Vanda. Your plant has an excellent chance of survival.

It may lose some of its lower leaves, because it doesn't have enough roots to absorb enough water to support all of them. When Phals lose leaves in this circumstance, the lowest leaves turn yellow, then fall off, one by one. Don't be alarmed if this happens, so long as roots are healthy and growing. Eventually the plant will have enough roots to support a full crown of leaves.

The higher you can keep the humidity around the plant, the lower will be the water loss from the leaves, and the fewer leaves will be in danger before the roots system regrows enough to supply enough water to the plant.

You can learn a lot in this thread:
The Phal abuse ends here.

And here is a good way to tell when to water a plant with roots throughout the pot:
Using skewers to determine when to water