Laurel, we are talking Den aggregatum here, not perhaps kingianum or superbum etc? Bigibbum keikis a lot for me, which I don't mind, it gives me more blooms this way.
I hate to say something really wrong here - I just looked again at my plant and all new pseudobulbs emerge from the base. Now please forgive me, but I really can't tell from your pictures where precisely the new growth emerges. I did study both pics carefully.
I myself don't really worry about fertilizing at the wrong time.
I would think the spikes or the lack thereof hinge on several factors:
Age and condition of the plant, cultural conditions as close as possible to those in nature. Many growers simply don't water the plant for ca 6 weeks starting in Fall, or give only so much water as to prevent the pbulbs from shriveling to death and then really soak the plant ( simulating the start of the rain season) and start watering.( as mentioned...) I never chill this one, thinking of the temps in its habitat. Full sun!
Anyway, this keiki thing on your plant is curious.
