Question
I have an epidendrum "paradise orange".  Bought it last February and it has grown nicely over the summer.  It sent up to bloom stalks last month and has not flowered yet.  Both bloom stalks have started turning black.  Any idea what is going on and how can I prevent this in the future.  A few leaf  tips have also turned black.

Answer
Hello George,

I cannot be certain what is causing those bloom stalks (spikes) to turn black but here are some possibilities to check.  

Are they turning black from the bottom up or from the top?  If from the bottom, it might be due to some fungus or bacteria which if left unchecked can damage or kill the spikes.  If it is at the top, it might be due to some environmental problem such as temperature being too hot or cold.  

Leaf tips turning black could be due to excess salts within the potting media.  Epidendrums and other thin leafed orchids are susceptible to leaf tip die-back caused by salt burn.  Salt burn occurs when the media accumulates salt from fertilizers, hard water or a combination of both.  The black will slowly grow by working its way down the leafs.  To minimize this problem, at least once a month water it twice, meaning water with plain water and wait an hour or two then water again.  The first watering will dissolve the salts in the media and the second watering will flush out most of it.  When you water, make sure to run enough water (one pot volume worth) to flush it out.  

Hope this helped.  Have a Happy Thanksgiving.

Jim Kawasaki
San Jose, Ca.