keiki on NOID phal-dendro
 

My phal-dendro has a keiki growing at the top of the cane and it looks like it has a spike. Not sire, but was wondering if some one here could help me figure out what this is. I the pic is not too sharp but you can see something growing next to the leaf.

Not sure, but that doesn't look like a spike to me. I would expect a spike to be thinner. I'm not quite sure what it is to be honest.

Hmm... interesting! Dens are full of surprises! Let us know what this does, please?

That looks very strange, but to me it looks like there is a fully grown flower bud on the bottom leaf axil?
The rest could grow into a little plant or grow more flowers.

how fascinating! i have never seen this before.......hhhmmmmmmmmm.....

Quite possibly a spike. It's a relatively common thing to see on Dendrobiums. Looks like it has even developed a bud already.

Could also be another keikei...

I looked at the keiki yesterday and at the top of the keiki, it looks like it's going to grow a spike from the keiki. another weird thing with this orchid, is that it has 2 roots that are growing straight up in the air. like they are looking for sunlight or something. anybody had this happen? I'll try to take a picture today and post it here.

Looks to me like a bud ready to bloom. Please keep us posted!

i have a rescue dendrobium that has a number of roots that are growing straight up out of the mix,..like they are trying to escape the pot...odd none of the others i have exhibit this habit...i wonder if its just a genetic aberation because of hybridizing,...which might also explain the odd growth on your kiki.

Normally, the spike will grow without those little leaf like structures on yours. I have seen a spike that started out like yours (a potential plantlet) producing a few leaves but then evetually it will grow much longer on top to produce fowers.
I have never seen though, flower bud growing like on your plant.

By the way, roots on any orchids can grow any direction. That's what they do in the wild. Orchids roots must grow all over the place in order to anchor itself firmly to whatever it's growing on.
In the pot, the roots may initially be all inside the media because they are not yet too extensive or that's where the moisture is. but over time, the roots will grow out of pot and grow in all possible direction.
That' just normal.