Orchid spike or keiki?

[Diegosanchez]

Hi everyone, I just became a member, and I have a question. My orchid showed new growth, and I really want it to be a spike, and not a keiki. Is it a spike or a keiki?( Ps, the pic is lopsided for some reason, and the pointy green nub is what I'm talking about.

[cbuchman]

It's s little soon to say. I assume it is a Phaleanopsis? If yes, it could also be an aerial root. On Phals, the spikes have a mitten shaped end; roots will have a white covering at their base, and keikis have multiple tips that are leaf ends. In your case, it is still a little too early to tell. If I had to guess, I'd say it is a root starting - which a sign of health!

[Diegosanchez]

I know it's not a root because it's pointed, and flat with segments.

[SlipperGirl]

Kind of looks like a spike to me

[RosieC]

Welcome to Orchid Board

It actually looks to me like a spike that's bent over with the tip still caught in the plant. These can be a pain because sometimes the tip won't free it's self and it's almost certain to break it if you try and pull it out.

I would let it grow a bit bigger to be sure, if it develops as a loop with both ends in the plant then that's what it is. Last time I had one like this I slit the leaf it was growing at the base off to remove that leaf and free the spike. The plant was healthy so could spare the leaf. I wouldn't do that until you know for sure though.

It doesn't look like a root to me, you usually see a bit which is silvery on roots and before that point the green tip would be quite rounded. A spike growing correctly would be a mitten shape. It doesn't quite look like a keiki to me either.

[Polarizeme]

I'm going with spike. I'd also take Rosie's advice to leave it be until it's bigger. They take some time to grow, so have a little patience!

[RosieC]

Hmm except looking again on a different computer screen I think root. I guess we will just have to wait and see.

[Tindomul]

Welcome to the Orchidboard. Its too early to tell yet, but it looks good for a spike rather than keiki, just from my experience.