A successful hybrid, becoming a celebrity within the spectacular list of hybrids in the Phalaenopsis genus, with a genealogy that stands out due to the small number of species, Phalaenopsis Sweet Memory, also known as Liodoro, initially spelled Liodora, impresses not only through its distinctive coloration but also through its unusual fragrance for the genus species, inherited from the parental species Phalaenopsis amboinensis.
A secondary hybrid, resulting from the crossbreeding of the botanical species Ph. violacea with the primary hybrid Ph. Deventeriana, includes in the parental species Phalaenopsis Violacea, with a 50% share, followed by Ph. Amboinensis and Ph. Amabilis, both with an equal share of 25% each. The hybrid was officially registered in 1982 by Universal Orchids, with permission from the hybridizer, Rex Smith. Shortly after, Sweet Memory Liodoro became a successful hybrid, with more than 30 clones awarded by AOS (American Orchid Society). The best-known and appreciated clones in this exceptional grex are Sweet Memory KF #1, Sweet Memory Joy Alba (which also received recognition at the 17th World Orchids Conference), Sweet Memory CY, Sweet Memory Bubbles, Sweet Memory Janet, Sweet Memory Bonnie Vasquez, Sweet Memory Vasquez, Sweet Memory Dorothy, Miva Fragrance Monaco, the latter taxon being slightly different in descent but very close to the Sweet Memory group.
The leaves have a specific coloration and texture in Sweet Memory, being light green, slightly yellowish, with a relatively softer, fleshy, fresh, fragile consistency compared to most Phalaenopsis hybrids. Their shape can be oval or elongated, reaching up to 25 cm in length and 10 – 12 cm in width. The flowers appear on 45 – 50 cm stems, having a “revolver” type blooming, meaning that the flowers, in small groups of up to 5 flowers per stem, bloom relatively simultaneously, and after these wilt, the flower stem slightly elongates and forms a new group of flowers. The fragrant flowers, with a strong, sweetish, slightly citrus-vanilla aroma, considerably sized for a scented phalaenopsis (approximately 7 cm in diameter), have a central yellow coloration, with transitions and gradient zones from pink to purple, sometimes densely decorated with red dots.
The color and size of the flowers directly depend on the general growing conditions of the plant. The oval-shaped petals and sepals reach up to 4 cm in length and 2.3 cm in width. The trilobed labellum, with a slightly mucronate protuberance on the central lobe and visibly serrated edges on the obtuse-shaped lateral lobes, measures approximately 2 cm in length and almost 1.4 cm in width, having straight, long lateral parts, yellow at the base and intense violet towards the tip, where a contrasting white coloration appears in the area of the apical mucro, which visibly distinguishes it from the body of the labellum. The general shape of the labellum is approximately rhomboid.
The light requirements for Liodoro correspond to a variable intensity, being able to efficiently tolerate both strong but diffused light and partial shade. The ideal location is positions with a southeast orientation, but if this is not possible, the plants can also be placed in western or southern orientations. If these latter options are preferred, it will be necessary to protect the plants from direct sunlight between May and September.
The growth temperature for this hybrid falls within the warm range, and it is recommended to keep the plants at daytime temperatures of 24 – 40°C and nighttime temperatures of 18 – 20°C.
The recommended humidity for cultivation is 50 – 70%, with lower values potentially inhibiting plant growth and causing abortion of unopened buds, which yellow, die, and fall off, as well as the aerial roots.
The ideal recipient for Sweet Memory is the plastic pot, but ceramic pots can also be used, or alternatively mounting on wooden blocks or plaques made of bark or cork can be considered. As a substrate, the best option is a mixture of conifer bark and sphagnum moss in a 4:1 ratio. Growing this hybrid in mounts on bark or wooden blocks involves placing a layer of sphagnum moss between the plant and the support to prevent excessive dehydration. A layer of sphagnum, either live or dry, can also be placed above the roots. It is expected for this taxon that the substrate decomposes quickly due to frequent watering and fertilization, which is why replanting and substrate replacement are recommended every 2-3 years. The most suitable time to perform this intervention is immediately after the flowering period ends.
Irrigations will be directly dependent on the ambient temperature, increasing their frequency as the temperature rises. Plants grown in mounts will need to be watered regularly, daily, in the morning, so that by evening the roots can dry relatively well. When watering specimens grown in pots, efficient drainage of water after immersion watering of the pot will be allowed. If water remains after at most an hour from irrigation, it is recommended to remove it using absorbent paper or kitchen towels, as it can facilitate the establishment of a considerable number of pathogens. Complete drying of the substrate is necessary before performing a new watering. On hot summer days, spraying the plants with water is necessary to help lower the temperature at the leaf level and increase the air humidity around the plants.
Fertilization will be carried out throughout the year at every third watering, with 30 – 50% of the current fertilizer concentration, and periodic, possibly alternating, foliar fertilizations are also recommended, performed by spraying at much higher dilutions than for root fertilizations.
This hybrid does not require a resting period to stimulate flowering, as the development of 3 or more flower stalks at the same time is relatively frequent, but the plants generally have only enough energy to develop just one of the stalks to maturity and full flowering. It is recommended that after the flowering of the first stalk is completed, the remaining stalk be removed to stimulate the development of the latent ones, but to apply this treatment, additional fertilization of the plants will be necessary, preferring phosphorus-rich fertilizers to avoid their depletion and encourage the development of new flowers. The young leaves of this hybrid are often soft and fragile and can break at the base. To avoid these inconveniences, it is recommended to handle the plants as little as possible, and initial planting in a horizontal position, not vertical, is advised to stimulate a growth type that gives the impression that the plants develop as if hanging from the pots.
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