The signals of spikes?
 

Ok i'm a keen observant of my Phals yes that means everyday with a magnifier, and lately I have noticed these small circular spots very dark pigmented they are positioned right between 2 leaves at the base right where a spike node will come from. I know that this is too early stage to tell if it's anything but I ask myself why aren't these spots anywhere else? Are they signals that there are spikes coming or it can be roots but I have noticed with roots they burst out quickly and start out with more of a reddish tinge anyone else observed these in Phals? The pictures are of two seperate Phals both having the markings around the same area.

It's difficult to tell with a phal.. It could be a root or a spike.

I don't know about dark spots, but if you see something like the picture below that appears from that dark spot, then I guess it could be an early signal for spikes. Little sharp nub on the left is the earliest I've ever caught a spike (showed up over night)

From your photos, it's too early to tell, but that location is where my flower spikes came out from. Usually roots don't come out from above the leaf base area, but instead along the sides of the plant stalk. I hope that helps you to determine what those new growths might be. Here is a photo of one of my orchids starting to put out new roots and what it looks like. New root starting to emerge is in the circle.https://mail.google.com/mail/?ui=2&i...f_h1kv8fhc0&zw