whats going on here?

[carmelitta]

Hi!
I'm a rookie orchid grower, have 4 phals I've aquired over the last year. 2 of my plants each have a small black node at the base of the plants. Definitely not a root, but it doesn't really look like a spike either (although I don't really know what a new spike would look like). I have recently started cooling at night, and both of these plants have had ample resting time since their last bloom. They are both healthy. I am hoping that this is a sign of a new spike. Have a look at these pics and let me know what you think!

I appreciate the input.

[mayres]

Those are VERY healthy looking phals - good job growing! The pictures are difficult to see what you are talking about - dark and slightly out of focus - but my best guess is a new root starting from what I can see.......mike

[carmelitta]

Thanks for the input Mike. Here is a better close-up. I'm reffering to the dark knob in the center of the picture. It's not like any of the other roots...
Thanx

looks like a root. i may just be a little dry at the surface of the medium, nice plant

[mayres]

Now THAT is an excellent close-up! I agree with duhhdog - still looks like a root so far - of course time will tell......mike

[Daniel S. Barrett]

beautiful plants!
Sometimes on my phals a plant will start to send out a root, then, for whatever reason it will change it's mind, and "Viola"! you have a black knob, it's nothing to worry about. "knobs happen!"

[carmelitta]

Thanks for your help and encouragement (although I'm sad its not a spike). Its nice to hear that my plants are healthy. I will keep trying to give the right amounts of tlc and maybe one day I'll have a spike. Patience is a virtue.
And I'm sure if that day ever comes, you'll hear about it!
Thanks again guys!

[Cynthia, Prescott, AZ]

Another thing you can do to help stimulate spikes is give the plant a little mild stress. Let it get a little dryer. These plants can't be left dry for very long, or their leaves will start to wrinkle, and at some point the wrinkles become permanent. But a few days dry usually won't hurt them, and any stress is known to stimulate spikes. I hope you have them in a room that does not have artificial light after dark. The length of day is also a trigger. Then, if you don't have spikes by January, you can try putting a flourescent lamp over the plants very close to the leaves during daylight hours. I hear that in nature they get very high light around this time.

[carmelitta]

Thanks Cynthia, I'll give that a try!

[jerrymeola]

Phals require a cooling to set buds. Even home heating can encourage growth at the expense of flowers.

Try moving the plant to somewhere it will get 50 degree night temperatures for the next month. Canada is a little cold now for outdoors (you could have put them out earlier). A room that can be closed off and not heated at night, or a cool hallway might do the trick.

[carmelitta]

I currently have my thermostat set to 70 during the day and 60 at night. I will make it even cooler at night, and see how that goes.