I have a Mokara that is like that. The spike appear, but if the plant is moved or the humidity changed a little bit, the spike stop growing and turn brown. It will grow another spike after sometime but that too will abort if the condition is not right.Even the roots are sensitive to touch or changes,example, if the roots are bumped by something hard or if you happen to accidentally break one of them, that is enough to make the spike stop growing and eventually die. The plant (a Vanda type) is Mokara Clark Kuan 'Ruby'. Sudden change in temperature too affect the spike.

Another is a Cattleya type, I have only seen the bloom once. Most of the time, the spike appear, and then the bud, and then WHAM!! its gone....I guess I will be more vigilant from now on.