Is this a spike, or a root?
 

Speaks for itself! This is on a phal hybrid that my daughter brought home from the hardware store. At least this one has a tag! I'm thinking this is a spike?

http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3751/9...349b7ac0a6.jpg

Looks like a root to me.

Looks like a root to me, too!

Thanks! None of my orchids have roots with that weird acorn looking shape on the end. They're all more rounded.

I know the first time I see a new spike on one of my orchids, I'll never forget what it looks like again, but I swear I just can't remember from pictures on the internet. For some reason, that's very different to my brain. LOL!

Yeah that's just a new section of a root. Looks like it must have started growing, paused, and started again. I have some like that too.

I know what you mean about the first time you see a new spike. I'm going to be jumping for joy!
Unfortunately, I wanted this feeling early, so I decided not to cut back an old spike down all the way and it side spiked off the old one. Smaller sadder flowers but it still made me happy. I said unfortunately bc the poor orchid need some rest so it can grow. I chopped a ton of roots off when I repotted bc I was being stupid.

Anyway, when you know, you know?

This is where an old root has then started growing again after having stopped. That weird shape is due to a thining where it stopped before, then the new bit is going to be a fatter root. The colour will change as it grows, with the tip bright yellowy green with some red, and the root behind it being paler.

I agree that it's a root, and new spikes actually have what most ppl refer to as a "mitten" shape (that's what it looks like to me as well)... Instead of the one, single point, like on a new growing root, it will have two points... That is the way all phal spikes look, esp. hybrids. :)

So… in that case… THIS is what a spike looks like then?

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7378/9...d08a41cbf0.jpg

I realize this is just branching off of an existing spike, but the mitten look, that's what you're talking about, right?

Right, the oven mitten....I love Rosie's explanation: concise, precise and clear....

Yes that mitten look on the tip of the spike in the picture is what new spikes will also look like.