It is spike time !hope all your new growths turn out to be spikes :) I switch mine to low nitrogen in Sept as well . Some spike early some later , don't give up I have one in full bloom and a few just starting spikes ..

Gin, could you supply some pictures of your cym's that are just starting to spike? There are a number of us on here that don't know the difference yet between a growth and a spike when it's starting.

For the most part the grow shoots are flatter and more pointy. If you feel them along the sides there are no bulges inside. The bloom shoots are more rounded and seem to come to a bulbous point rather than sharp and if you feel along the sides there is a greater fullness to them. I'll see if I can take some pictures today and post them for you.. :-)

I've uploaded pictures of Grow spikes and bloom spikes on Flickr.
For Grow Spikes
Grow Spikes - a set on Flickr

For Bloom spikes
Bloom Spike - a set on Flickr

This one is a comparison of a grow spike and a bloom spike on a mini cymbidium that is difficult to tell if you are a beginner. This is to show you how close they can look at first. In this one they both look somewhat bulbous. I have others where the bloom looks rather flat. But if you feel them you can tell the difference after a few times
Bloom and Grow - a set on Flickr
The grow is the redder one on the right
labeled Grow

Enjoy!!

I started to use slow release fert pellets last year, as I hardly ever fertilized my cyms, cos it was just easier to catch them with the hose in summer. I typically still got spikes, but with very few blooms on them.
Seems to be working out pretty well. This past spring, my green noid cym had 5 excellent spikes. Currently I have 3 cyms with multiple spikes - no buds showing yet, so have to wait and see if they have lots of blooms.

thanks so much for sharing those pix Bob!

Good idea WhiteRabbit, I think I'll try that next year.

Thanks Bob, I think mine will have to grow a bit more before I can tell. However if I've not fertilised enough I guess there is more chance they are growths. We shall see. :)

WOW, they do look quite similar when they are small but there are discernable differences as they get bigger. I will have to do the feel test today to see if I can tell. If they aren't spikes, at least I haven't killed it, lol...

Thanks for sharing those pictures and the information!

It just takes some time, patience, practice, and attention to detail. Occasionally I too am fooled. And some cyms are more definitely different between the grow and spikes while others the two are very close, ie the bud spikes tend to be flatter and more pointed.

RE: time release
I use a special palm formula now that is 12-4-16 with 2% Mg for half the year. Then I switch to a 10-17-17 bloom formula for the second half. I start the bloom feed in around May or June usually and the palm formula in Jan
But then I've got a nursery and push things along. I add this information just as a guide. I use about a teaspoon of time release per gallon of plant.