what does a new flower spike look like?

[electric.chowder]

I was just wondering what a flower spike looks like right as it's begining to grow. How can you tell if its going to be an air root or a spike?

thanks!

[kmarch]

Dear chowder,

It depends on the genera you're talking about. For most, there would be no mistaking a root for a flower spike but for many it takes a while to tell if it is a spike or a new growth.

Cattleya-types - It is easy to tell when these are in spike because after the leaf on a new growth opens up there will usually be a sheath inside, like of like a small envelope of tissue. You can often see through it and see buds inside. No mistaking these for roots or new growths.

Dendrobiums - Dendrobiums, at least the commonly grown types (hard canes, nobiles, etc) either bloom form spikes that emerge from between the leaves at the top of the plant or along the cane. As roots don't grow in these places you'd never mistake them for roots. With nobile-types, initially you can't tell the difference between a spike and a keiki, but it becomes aparent after a while.

Phals - A Phal spike will emerge form the crotch of a leaf, will be all green (or may have other pigmentation like maroon), usually with a little cluster-ish structure at the end, and will usually grow upwards (at least the commonly found hybrids). Some folks say they confuse these with roots but roots and flower spikes come from different places on a Phal, roots are whitish with a smooth green tip (no cluster-structure) and they grow out into the air or down into the mix, usually not up towards the light source. Initially you may only see the smooth green tip.Here's a Phal spike starting. Here's one further along.

Paphs & Phrags - These are really easy to tell because the last leaf on the fan before the spike is usually a short leaf then a flower spike comes. The spikes often resemble a little pillow-like leafy thing and it won't take long for the stem to become visible. Phrags almost always start spikes and new growths at the same time. Some (but not all) Paphs do this too. So if your Paph or Phrag is starting a new growth look for spikes.

Cymbidiums - Cymb new growths and spikes look a lot alike initially also. I was told that the growths are pointed while the spikes are round. This is true for some but I have one Cymbid that was growing pointed growths and 3 of the 4 growths have turned out to be spikes. I've also been told to squeeze the end of the growth. If it is firm it is a spike, if it gives, it is a growth. i'm not willing to risk damaging tiny tender buds in sheath by going around squeezing on things. No matter, after a few weeks it will become clear which they are as the spikes will elongate and a stem will become visible while growths will open to reveal grassy leaves.

Coelogyne - These guys are all over the map. They have 4 different blooming habits so it really depends on the plant you're talking about.

Oncidiums - I don't grow many of these so someone will have to answer this one, but I do know the spikes come out from between the pseudobulb and one of the side bracts and so you'd never mistake one for a root which are thin and white.

What kind of plant are you talking about?

[pikevi]

It is a very valid question. When I saw some shiny reddish protrusion on a vanda I got all excited and thought it was the 'spike' in the making. But members in here enlightened me as to its true nature- a root

I am sure you will get a more clear answer from others but I can only say that spikes come in many forms. Some plants have them at the top ,some at the axils and some on top of the pseudobulbs. Some , I think , even have them at the base.

My understanding is that spikes will be more solid to the touch and will only come out of certain areas of the plant depending on the orchid type.

I hope someone will give you a more precise and concise answer. I am still learning.

It is unfortunate that there are no sites on the 'net just deling with 'orchid spiking', or at least I could not find one.

[pikevi]

Hmmmmm...

My apologies , kmarch.

I was perhaps typing at the same time

It was very useful to me too. Thanks

[chefatplay]

Good question, I have asked this before without answers. I'm glad to read this. I have round "bulbs" at the bottoms of my Brassia under the dried brown leaves. I have 4 or 5 of these on the bottom of different pseudobulbs. Can anyone tell me if these are leaves or bulbs? Can I take the dry brown leaf material away? I noted on one, it have split the brown material.

[fred]

Quote] Can I take the dry brown leaf material away?

you can but you will have to do that very carefully for you may break off the new growth.

[Vivienne]

Since I have a phal currently growing a new root and a new spike thought I'd attempt a pic.

[fred]

well done Vivienne very good pic

[chefatplay]

Thanks, Fred. I think I will leave it alone. Do you know if it is leaf or bulb? Vivienne, thanks for that pic as well. Now I can obsess over my phals as well.

[fred]

can you post a pic so we can have a look please.

[kmarch]

Originally Posted by Vivienne

Since I have a phal currently growing a new root and a new spike thought I'd attempt a pic.

Vivienne, you're doing well with taking nice clear pics and it's good to get the labling in there. May I make a clarification (see attachment)?

Cheers

[Vivienne]

Thanks Kevin... here's my reworked image...

[electric.chowder]

it looks like I've got roots growing, not a flower spike gotta give it some more time, how many leaves usually grow on a phal in a season, on one of mine, a new leaf has opened up and it looks like another is coming too

[Sharyn]

Viv & Kevin: Very nice pics and self-explanatory. I'll have to learn to label mine so precisely. When first growing orchids, it's always a question, is that a root or a spike? Nice to show newbies what to expect.

I will say from my own experience, that one complete growing and flowering cycle made it all very clear to me, with or without pictures. Roots/spike? It's a common question. Your pics should be put in a sticky, along with other types for all to see the new growth/spikes. I think Fred has a few in the forum somewhere. Nice job on your explanation Kevin - I'm copying this one for my file - will help when I acquire some new types of orchids.

[mayres]

In answer to your "how many leaves in a season" question, I think it is dependent upon a couple of things. One would be where you live - what kind of "season" you have. The longer and warmer your season is, the more leaves you might expect (?) and or the more you might see them spread out over the course of the year - this would be somewhat influenced by genetics as well. I'm somewhat guessing on this in that I have not lived in a tropical environment - just going on small online observations - possibly someone who has year round warm/tropical temps could confirm? In temperate climates (like mine) I have noticed that my phals usually stay fairly even in number of leaves - each year they loose a few and gain a few - might loose 2 and gain 2 or 3 (if lucky).

[PhalPal]

Speaking of phals here......Roots and spikes are hard to tell apart very early on, but the location of the growth can help to determine what you have.

Roots can emerge from almost anywhere on a phal and will have a blunt, rounded end. Roots can also become squiggly, while spikes remain straight and tend to grow upward, but not always. Spikes come from the bottom or oldest row of leaves and will have a more 'mitten' like, V-shape. Both roots and spikes are round. Roots are always green; spikes can also be green but others have a reddish tinge to them. Leaves always grow from the crown (top leaf row, center) of the plant. A new top row of leaves will appear folded, v-shaped, and flat.

In most cases, if your orchid is putting out leaves and roots, your new growth is not a flower spike. Some miniatures like to put out all three at once, so getting to know your plant over a few seasons will make it easier to guess at what you have. Good news is, no matter what you have growing, the care for it is the same.

Note here: Using terms like Always and Never is difficult in a plant genera so diverse, but for the plants most of us will encounter the above is a good gauge.

[justloveorchids]

This orchid was given to me a month ago in a very dry and poor state its owner claiming it had reflowered once after she had it but not for last 2 years

I repotted it and soaked and misted it with worm tea for 2.5 weeks
i have come back from 12 days away to both a flower spike from between 2 upper leaves and a root growing out between 2 lower ones

None of my other phalls have roots growing out like this so thought some might like to see it