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 with its distinctive coloration but also with 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, it includes in its 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 the AOS (American Orchid Society). The most well-known and appreciated clones of 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 color 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 the flowers, in small groups of up to 5 flowers per stem, bloom relatively simultaneously, and after they wilt, the flower stem slightly elongates and forms a new group of flowers. The fragrant flowers, with a strong, sweet, slightly citrus-vanilla aroma, considerably sized for a scented phalaenopsis (about 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 nearly 1.4 cm in width, with straight, long lateral parts that are yellow at the base and deep violet towards the tip, where a contrasting white coloration appears in the apical mucron area, clearly distinguishing it from the body of the labellum. The overall shape of the labellum is approximately rhomboid.
Light requirements for Liodoro correspond to variable intensity, tolerating both strong but diffused light and partial shade effectively. The ideal location is southeast-facing positions, but if this is not possible, plants can also be placed facing west or south. If these latter options are preferred, it will be necessary to protect the plants from direct sunlight between May and September.
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.
Recommended humidity for cultivation is 50–70%, with lower values potentially inhibiting plant growth and causing the abortion of unopened buds, which yellow, die, and fall off, as well as affecting aerial roots.
The ideal container for Sweet Memory is a plastic pot, but ceramic pots can also be used, or alternatively mounting on wooden blocks or plaques made of bark or cork. As a substrate, the best option is a mixture of conifer bark and sphagnum moss in a 4:1 ratio. Growing this hybrid mounted 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 dried, can also be placed above the roots. It is expected that this taxon will experience rapid substrate decomposition due to frequent watering and fertilizing, so repotting and substrate replacement every 2-3 years is recommended. The best time to perform this intervention is immediately after the flowering period ends.
Irrigation will directly depend on the ambient temperature, increasing in frequency as the temperature rises. Plants grown in mounts should be watered regularly, daily, in the morning, so that by evening the roots can dry relatively well. When watering plants grown in pots, efficient drainage of water after immersion watering should be allowed. If water remains after at most an hour from irrigation, it is recommended to remove it with 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 the next watering. On hot summer days, spraying the plants with water is necessary to help lower the leaf temperature and increase the humidity around the plants.
Fertilization will be carried out throughout the year every third watering, with 30–50% of the current fertilizer concentration, and periodic, possibly alternating, foliar fertilizations are also recommended, done by spraying at much higher dilutions than root fertilizations.
This hybrid does not require a rest period to stimulate flowering, as it is relatively common for 3 or more flower stalks to develop simultaneously, but the plants generally only have enough energy to develop one stalk to maturity and full bloom. It is recommended that after the first stalk finishes flowering, 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, preferably with phosphorus-rich fertilizers, to avoid 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 issues, 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 the plants develop as if hanging from the pots.
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