Did this spike turn into a root?

[cantrell]

Hi, all. You might think I’m crazy, but I’m pretty sure that a spike on one of my phals turned into a root.

I moved my phal to a colder location to get it to spike, and it did. But I was rebuilding my grow space in the meantime, so I left it in the colder location for much longer than I intended. The spike did absolutely nothing for about a month while other roots grew rapidly, the plant grew another leaf, and it spiked on the other side. I assumed it just aborted the spike because I didn’t get it back into its bright, warm home quickly enough, but about a week ago, I noticed a tip emerging from the aborted spike, and now it’s a big, healthy root.

So my hypothesis is that one of the following happened:

1. The aborted spike miraculously turned into a root. (Perhaps not necessarily miraculously; I have plants whose blooms, once all the pollen has dropped, fill with chlorophyll and start to photosynthesis as leaves).
2. A new root grew through the aborted spike.
3. The aborted spike was always actually a root, and the plant was just messing with me all along. (Doubtful; I’ve never seen another root take a month off while all its siblings grew rapidly.)

Any thoughts?

[jkofferdahl]

The aborted spike was actually a root. Nothing unusual for a Phal.

[orion141]

Looks like it was just a root (sometimes hard to tell whether it is a root or spike at the beginning).

[Subrosa]

3.

[PaphMadMan]

Can't really see enough detail in the photo, but here's an alternative. The root emerged at or near the base of the aborted spike.

[cantrell]

Originally Posted by PaphMadMan

Can't really see enough detail in the photo, but here's an alternative. The root emerged at or near the base of the aborted spike.

I think this might be it. Another root has emerged right next the successful spike on the other side. Had that spike been aborted, it might have been the same situation.