We seem to have two very active topics going here: 1) is it a spike or a growth and 2) why leaf tips on Cyms turn brown.
!) Flower spikes can emerge anytime of year but for each individual plant, they come at a fairly regular time each year depending on parentage. That said, there can often be an "out of season" spike emerge but the quality of the bloom will not be as good as it would in cooler weather, since these usually emerge at the beginning of summer. That said, the fall bloomers will initiate spikes in late summer. Then there are some heat tolerant hybrids, as those coming from Golden Elf breeding, which can initiate spikes all year long.
2) Leaf tip burn can occur for several reasons, as has been stated on this thread. I do not water before I fertilize as I go along with Ray's comments on food for people and food for orchids being similar. If you fill the plant cells with water just prior to fertilizing, less fertilizer will be absorbed. However, if the plant is totally dry, the salts in the water and in the fertilizer will join forces, march to the leaf ends and cause burning.
I do not know the actual scientific words for this occurance, but I am sure a chemist here will be able to fill in the details of actually how the chemicals move through the cells if more detailed info is needed.
So what are your alternatives?
1) Do not let Cyms totally dry out before fertilizing.
2) Use a dilute fertilizer each week rather than full strength once a month. If you still have burn, further reduce the amount you are using each week.
3) If you have high dissolved salts in your water, go RO.
It is all a balancing act and trial and error for the most part.
Hope this helps,
CL