Memorias

[Katherine]

Could you please explain what a Memoria is. I have tried every way i know how to google. I believe I have a Miltonia, but then when I Google it only see Dendrobium Memoria 'Princess Diana'.

So a primer would be nice.

[cdayinflorida]

Memoria is latin for memory remains. It is to memorialize the person whose name follows.

[catttan]

Could you please explain what a Memoria is. I have tried every way i know how to google. I believe I have a Miltonia, but then when I Google it only see Dendrobium Memoria 'Princess Diana'.

So a primer would be nice.

Orchids named to honour people who have passed away would have the designation 'Memoria' before the name of the person so honoured. The Singapore Botanic Gardens has this long tradition of naming local bred orchids after Royalty/dignitaries/famous personalities/heads of states etc who visit the republic. In 1997 the late Princess Diana was scheduled to visit Singapore and a white dendrobium had been selected to be named after her to commemorate the visit but her tragic death before her visit put paid to plans to name the orchid after her. A few weeks ago her son Prince William and wife, the Duchess of Cambridge went on a tour of the Far East and the Pacific Islands . On the Singapore leg of the tour, Their Royal Highnesses attended a poignant ceremony at the Botanic Gardens during which the very orchid that would have been named after William's mother had she visited Singapore in 1997, was officially registered in memory of her - thus Dendrobium Memoria Princess Diana.

There have been numerous orchids named after dead people to honour them and 'Memoria' is usually abbreviated to just 'Mem' - so we have Blc Mem Crispin Rosales, V Mem Pranom , BTW Den Mem Princess Diana is a beautiful white dendrobium a fitting tribute to a beautiful, gracious lady.

[Kmac]

Since others have covered your "Memoria" question, I'll just add that I suspect what you have might be a Miltoniopsis (not miltonia) Princess Diana...does it look something like this?
Google Image Result for http://www.chicagobotanic.org/images/inbloom/highlight/Miltoniopsis-princess-diana.jpg

[Katherine]

I wish I could take a picture of the stake, but I suspect that the writing would not come through. At the top of the stake it says MILI Down the side it says MEMORIA Janet Rowland, 'Black Eagle'...It is not in spike, I bought it about 2 weeks ago

[Kmac]

Sorry, I thought yours was called Princess Diana, and you were just trying to figure out if it was indeed a Miltonia. I haven't ever heard of Mem. Janet Rowland, but if the stake says MILI, I would bet it is indeed supposed to be MILT for miltonia. At any rate, good luck with it!

[Katherine]

I think they said it had not yet been registered. and since the MILI was covered woth nail polish it well may have said MILT

[PaphMadMan]

Miltoniopsis Memoria Janet Rowand (not Rowland), though you will also see it listed as Miltonia. Ancestry is mostly Miltoniopsis vexillaria, some Miltoniopsis roezlii, and a tiny bit unknown. With the right name you should be able to find a few pics on the web, but usually looks pretty much like vexillaria (pink).

[Katherine]

If this is a Miltoniopsis I will never have enough heat, and probably not enough humidity. My daytime heat is 68-72 and humidity about 60-ish going up at night to 70-ish. Any suggestions?

[PaphMadMan]

If this is a Miltoniopsis I will never have enough heat, and probably not enough humidity. My daytime heat is 68-72 and humidity about 60-ish going up at night to 70-ish. Any suggestions?

Doesn't sound too bad to me. If you can keep the temp mostly between 55 and 85 with at least some temperature drop at night relative to day, and humidity around 60% or above, you're doing better than most hobby growers do for Miltoniopsis. Being too warm is much worse than being a bit cooler than the optimal daytime range.