I also had a Zygopetalum delivered to me with a spike and buds. After a week or so the buds got brown (or blackish purple as you say) on the bottom and they fell off the spike. After the spike i repotted and fertilized and also swapped the old Sphagnum/Bark mix to mostly Lava / Bark mix. It rewarded me with 5 new growths 2 of which are looking like new spikes. It also came with wrinkled up bulbs which are now plump and pretty.
It seems to me the buds never opened due to lack of humidity since the plant arrived after 14 days and also very low temperatures.
My second Zygo oppened all flowers normaly and is now 2 weeks in bloom filling the room with smell every morning.
Hybrid Mode
