I don't know that variety, but it sounds like a Standard White. These put out long spikes. Most tall-spike phals don't show buds til the spikes are pretty tall, closer to 20" than 10.

Just be patient. Your spike just has a way to go, that's all. For lots of phals, the spikes take about 3-1/2 months on average from start to bloom. I think you'll notice the spike growing fast, tho, often more than an inch a week.

If your culture were a problem, you probably wouldn't have a spike at all, so relax and enjoy watching the spike develop. Also beware of elbows and careless people breaking it, or too-near lights burning it. That'll make you cry.

Thanks Mehitabel, It is a white variety with a description of "multi branching" The spike has about 6 sheaths (I think that's what theyr'e called) so I was just surprised that nothing is in them. Does that development sound normal?

T-bred, sheaths are the covering for buds on a cattleya and maybe some other orchids, but not phals.

You may be referring to what are called "nodes". These are the little triangles that appear every few inches on a spike. There usually isn't anything that develops on its own in the first four or so of those anyway. Buds or even branches do develop from these, but a little further along.

I still think you're just early days yet. While you're watching that spike grow, read up as much as you can about phals in the culture sheets on specialist vendors's websites, like Big Lead, Bedford Orchids and Robert Bedard :).