The spike meaning the stem on which buds will develop once mature.

The plant; a Schomburgkia hybrid orchid native to Mexico and Central America.

Thus far it has taken 11-weeks for the spikes to reach this length without the first sign of buds forming, which tells us the spikes have not even come anywhere close to where their length will be once this happens. Some Schomburgkia species 1/10 of the size this plant normally produce spikes in excess of 20-30 inches in length.

I can't take any credit for the spike production since I bought the plant on 28 September, this year when the spikes were just little nubbins, other than for keeping the plant alive which, even in the wild, nature does the same... a lot better than we do, I should add. 😀