What's the difference between a root and spike?
*Above two picture is one of my Phalaenopsis orchid spiking. You can see the small buds growing.
If you have successfully repotted your orchid (it's on a natural schedule) and Fall has arrived you should be anxiously awaiting for it to spike. By “spike” I mean the beginning of the shoot that becomes the bloom.
The big question is it a SPIKE or is it a ROOT?
It is very easy to confuse a root for a spike. But once you see a real spike you will not confuse them again! They look like little “mittens” or little hands, as shown in the picture above and will grow upwards towards light. And easy way to remember this…it's cold out (fall) look for “mittens”
You should expect to see these little “mittens” on your orchid by Thanksgiving. Spikes emerge from the same area of the plant as some ariel roots which is why it easy to confuse them. In the picture below you can see both a root and a spike. Can you tell the difference? The spike is bright green, aiming upwards and has that classic ” mitten” shape…it's in the middle. The root is growing lower and is smaller and has a dusty green/white color.
Here is another example…In this picture the spike is again bright green, growing up and has the mitten shape. While the roots, below it, are again a dusty green/white color.
In this last pic we see a better picture of the roots. You can see a big, more established, spike/shoot on the left – which is growing behind the stick and is probably in bloom. This orchid has a bunch of ariel roots, they are growing all around this pot. In this case the orchid needs to be repotted soon to push some of these roots down in the soil.
Each spike on a orchid will have at least a few nodes going up the spike prior to the blooms. A node, shown below, looks like a little half envelope going up the branch and each node has the potential to branch off and have it's own bloom!
Make sure you have stakes on hand to hold up your new spike. For spiking tips go here.
Hope that helps!
Hannah
Feel free to leave comments or questions.
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Thanks, Hannah.
Another question: I have spent blossoms that have not fallen off. One blossom is over a year old. They have all dried. Is this normal?
Once blooms have died you want to cut the stem back,
Cutting a stem back
https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2011/11/26/252/
Hannah
I have many ariel roots and a new spike. Can I repot now?rujilu
Hi,
You never want to repot when the orchid is in its bloom cycle because it can shock the orchid and cause bud blast. Wait till the spike has bloomed and the buds have died to repot it.
Hannah
Thank you. I’m so glad I’ve discovered your web site. Can’t wait for my new spike to bloom, then I’ll try repotting for the first time.
thanks for this post.
this is really silly – i have two aerial roots growing out and up of the pot, and didn’t realise the difference ! time for a pot upgrade.
You are welcome :)
Oh my oh my….I just found some new growth on my phal that I’ve been caring for as I’ve learned on your blog. I checked this article and hey! It’s a spike! I’m so excited, this orchid was my first and I wasn’t sure it would bloom this year.
Congrats!!! That’s awesome!
Hannah
Thank you the imformation has helped to understand , we have never repotted the orchid.they are Ariel roots . We have got on ours. Thanks again .you were most helpful. GWEN
You are welcome.
Hannah
Hello,
My orchid has been growing an apical keiki for a few months now, and is just starting to sprout roots. When I looked at it on Friday, it had a couple root nubs poking out. When I came back on Monday (the orchid is at work) it had undergone quite a growth-spurt! Not only does the keiki have four small (1-2 cm long) roots, it also has a good size (5-6 cm) spike! I had been planning to re-pot once the roots were big enough, but now I don’t know what to do.
Since it’s growing a spike, I shouldn’t re-plant, correct? But I can’t support the spike because it’s growing sideways off an apical keiki! What do I do?
Any advice you would provide would be helpful! Thank you!
Hi,
I would be nervous to repot it now because it could cause the spike to experience bud blast later. This is because repotting shocks and orchid. I would wait till after it blooms and then repot it. I know the spike won’t be supported but that is ok. In nature they are not supported but we support them because we like how it looks.
Here is my link on bud blast….
https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2012/03/24/bud-blast-2/
Is it potted in a pot without drainage holes per chance?
Hannah
It is potted in a clear pot with drainage holes, although the mother is probably about ready for a re-potting as well – starting to grow up and out of the pot. Thank you for the advice, I guess I will wait until the buds have dropped and then will replant mother and keiki together!
Thanks for this great blog, Hannah!
Sounds good and you are welcome!
Why are the roots of my orchid yellow?
Tricia,
I would love to help? Are they yellow and mushy like they maybe rotting or just a yellow hue? Is there a way you can send me a picture at myfirstorchid@gmail.com? If not we can try to figure it out here.
Either way –
How do you water it?
Does it have a drainage hole?
Hannah
So I bought this beautiful orchid at a flea market last spring for $12 and it bloomed out perfect the flowers lasted a long while and it had little beads of sap all over it and they eventually fell off and I cut the stems it’s now january it has put off three new leaves many roots and has a 4 inch spike with the sap my question is I have a damaged leaf can I cut it? Also it’s in a small clear pot with moss type stuff and I bought a slightly larger glass vase to keep it in for a humid environment can I just transfer it to the vase? Last but not least is the sap a good or bad sign!!!!!
Hi Lance,
I would love to help!
First – damaged leaves can be cut but you don’t really want to cut a leaf unless it’s already cut and dangling (like if you dropped it). The leaves support the plant even though they may be damaged. Just be careful to not cut a leaf that has a scrape on it or something like that because even though they may be not nice to look at they are still supporting the plant. Also if you do decide to cut them – you can sprinkle some cinnamon on the (common household spice – also a natural fungicide) cut part.
2. Potting – when watering them make sure both pots have drainage. Orchids like to be quite snug in their pots so if you decide to move up a size make sure the roots are very snug in the new one. Orchids are not like other plants in that they need a lot of “room to grow.”
3. Sap is not normal. Was your orchid originally dyed blue? You can send me a picture at myfirstorchid@gmail.com – if you like or just further explain it here.
Hope that helps,
Hannah
Why do I have roots coming out with five leaves below it and three leaves above it? Could it be a spike?!
It could be a spike or it could be an aerial root. Click below…
https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2011/11/05/aerial-roots/
You will know very quickly if it’s a spike because it will grow up for a bit and have a “mitten” like shape on the top.
Hannah
I know it’s an aerial root, but why is it so high up?
Thanks,
John
Sometimes that just happens! I find it to be very annoying:) I like them to grow down low but that’s what they do sometimes,
Hannah
I am an orchid newbie. My husband gave me a Taida Salu orchid over a year ago. After the flowers died, some leaves developed on top the stem and now I have two roots coming out on the stem. Can I cut them stem and plant the roots? I did not know I was supposed to cut the stem after the flower went away.
Thanks
Tammi,
Hi :) that is most likely a keiki. Which is a baby orchid. Super cool!!
I have a link on this…
https://myfirstorchid.wordpress.com/2013/03/30/basal-keikibaby-orchid/
You have wait till the roots are three inches long to plant it.
Let me know once you have read that if you have more questions,
Hannah
I sent two photographs I hope that can help :)
Help!
I am completely lost. I have gotten a new orchid (phalaenopsis) and all has been well until these odd sprouts have popped up right out of the soil. I’ve looked everywhere and can’t seem to find an answer. They are small skinny sprouts with white stems and two small green leaves that grow from the stem just like orchid leaves. They are not attached to the root or the stem of my orchid. they look harmless but I want to know wat are they. Are they weeds? Or are they a new orchid all buy itself? please help. :)
thank you!
Shelly,
I would love to help! If leaves are attached to them then it’s probably a basal Keiki, which is a baby orchid, I have a post on this. But I can’t tell you for sure without a picture. Can you send one to myfirstorchid@gmail.com ? If not then google basal Keiki on an orchid or look at my post and compare pictures to see.
If they did not have leaves on them I would say it was Ariel Roots….
Hannah