Den. Nobile: Love Memory Fit, or Fitz, or Fizz...

[AdeleDS]

I didn't put this in the Identification section because it's such a beginner question:

I have a den. nobile that is clearly labelled "Love Memory Fit" and when I search that name I get very few results. Lately I've run across "Love Memory Fitz" as well as "Love Memory Fizz". I am wondering if these are all one and the same.
How would I know whether there ever was a "Love Memory Fit" or whether it's just a spelling mistake?

[estación seca]

Years ago it was Fizz.

[AdeleDS]

I guess what I'm asking is - and yes, I know this is not only beginner this is stupidly beginner stuff - is there an online record of orchid names, so that you could look up the name you've got and see if it really exists? and maybe get an idea of what kind of care it needs? I see messages from those who know where an orchid comes from - location and elevation - and that gives them a clue to its care; there must be a source for all this knowledge (other than live and learn)

The little information on culture that I do have suggests that this orchid should drop its leaves during the winter months, and should be allowed to go dry. And its leaves are not even turning yellow, let alone dropping, and when I leave it for a week the stem gets all shrivelled-looking and so I give it some water because it seems to me that letting it get shrivelled isn't right.

I had it outside in September, but we've had a cold and stormy fall (I'm in Vancouver) and I've brought it inside so it doesn't get blown away or frozen. I read that letting it go dry is maybe more important than keeping it outside but how dry is dry? How shrivelled is the right amount?

I'd rather not kill it through ignorance.

[estación seca]

There are several - the Royal Horticultural Society in the UK keeps the official list of registered names. But not every grower registers names there. Sometimes they give a trade name to a plant and don't register it.

I tend to go first to orchidroots.com.

[WaterWitchin]

Pretty sure it's Den Love Memory 'Fizz' and just a spelling error. It's a really popular hybrid on the market right now. These can tolerate a pretty large range of temperature, and getting a temp drop of about 15F for three or four weeks is how to prepare it for blooming. Here I shoot for 50-55F. You of course can't leave it outside in a Canadian winter.... BRRRRR!

The newer hybrids (like this one) don't need or want a severe "dry season." If canes are shriveling, give water. After the leaves drop, water less, but don't stop watering completely. Don't over-fertilize, as they will grow plant and not flower.

Mine is still in full leaf, not even thinking about dropping them yet. It always blooms in early to mid spring.

---------- Post added at 09:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:37 AM ----------

PS Here's a Show n Tell of it that's pretty on point for care, and easy to understand without getting too advanced. Dendrobium Love Memory

Also, no such thing as a silly question.

[tmoney]

well, as beginners ourselves, pretty sure we asked this same question here (about sites for looking up orchids)! one thing that i probably should have known, but didn’t learn till now, is that the ‘fizz’ is just an awarded cultivar name, from one plant of that particular hybrid that stood out from the rest, won some award, and then was cloned for the retail market. (i think that is a correct explanation, but im sure someone will correct me if im off)

basically, what has helped us it to look up the hybrid name, and then start digging if it is a more rare hybrid or a recently awarded/registered cultivar. i know you asked about that name ‘fit’ or ‘fizz’ but essentially your plant would probably have similar conditions to info for the general hybrid love memory. forgive me if you already knew this stuff...and i am with you, in that i like to know about our plants, their history, when and what they were awarded, and what the mother plant looked like. this has proven challenging for us so far

as always, someone please correct me if this is bad advice!

oh, and edit to include that finally we were able to get a hit on the rhs search. 2 things, find the parent names of the love memory hybrid (knowing which is pollen and which is pod parent), and also use the % search function, as that was our key breakthrough that finally made it work for us

again, apologies if you already knew all this stuff!

[Roberta]

Originally Posted by tmoney

well, as beginners ourselves, pretty sure we asked this same question here (about sites for looking up orchids)! one thing that i probably should have known, but didn’t learn till now, is that the ‘fizz’ is just an awarded cultivar name, from one plant of that particular hybrid that stood out from the rest, won some award, and then was cloned for the retail market. (i think that is a correct explanation, but im sure someone will correct me if im off)

basically, what has helped us it to look up the hybrid name, and then start digging if it is a more rare hybrid or a recently awarded/registered cultivar. i know you asked about that name ‘fit’ or ‘fizz’ but essentially your plant would probably have similar conditions to info for the general hybrid love memory. forgive me if you already knew this stuff...and i am with you, in that i like to know about our plants, their history, when and what they were awarded, and what the mother plant looked like. this has proven challenging for us so far

as always, someone please correct me if this is bad advice!

You're right on...

[AdeleDS]

By George, I think I've got it. Thanks, everybody, for your help.

[WaterWitchin]

Excellent post tmoney. Very understandable for a newer grower.