Degarmoara Skywalker 'Red Star' HCC/AOS

Base Price: $65.00

Cross: (Miltassia Erachne x Odm. brevifolium)

Intro:
Degamoara Skywalker 'Red Star' HCC/AOS is a hybrid between Miltassia Erachne x Odm. brevifolium. This is an easy growing and easy flowering plant tolerant of a wide range of temperatures and will flower twice per year usually in the spring and fall. This is the first release of this excellent mericlone.

Light:
This plant prefers low to medium light from 1000 - 2500 foot-candles. During the winter months in the far latitudes when the sun is low on the horizon and the days are short, increase light intensity to 3000 - 3500 foot-candles. During the spring, summer and fall months, reduce light levels as the days are longer.

Temperature:
This plant will do well in a wide range of temperatures from cool, intermediate, to warm temperatures. The only requirement is that the plant receives a differential between day and night temperatures of about 8 - 10º. Ideally the plant should drop just below 65º at night to encourage flowering.

Humidity:
50% or higher is ideal. Humidity trays are helpful. The best way to raise humidity is to saturate the air on a continual basis. This is not a problem in greenhouses, but in the average home the best results can be had with a 10 gallon free-standing humidifier available at most hardware and discount stores.

Water:
This plant prefers rain distilled or reverse osmosis water or municipal water with low total dissolved solids (150 or lower) or a pH of 7.5 or lower. Water as the plant approaches dryness, but do not allow the plant to become bone dry between waterings. During the winter months this plant prefers a bit of a rest during December, where the plant is kept somewhat drier between waterings. A very slight shriveling of the pseudobulbs can be tolerated at this time. If the pseudobulbs shrivel too much, increase the frequency of the watering to keep them plump.

Fertilizer:
We highly recommend using Green Jungle Orchid Food, especially formulated to work with rain, distilled, reverse osmosis water or water low in alkalinity. Fertilize with Green Jungle every time you water if plants are planted in bark. Be sure to flush the mix with clear water only once per month to prevent fertilizer salt build up. For plants in moss or mounted on slabs feed every third or 4th watering as the moss holds a lot of nutrients.

Or use GrowMore 20-10-20 Ureafree for municipal or well water. Use at the rate of ½ teaspoon per gallon. If using GrowMore with rain, distilled, or reverse osmosis water, add back in 5 - 10% municipal or well water to supply the necessary calcium and magnesium. Fertilize every other watering in the summer and every third watering in the winter.

Another fertilizer offered is: GrowMore 6-30-30 (Cymbidium and bloom boosting formula).

Flowering:
This plant usually twice per year in the spring and fall with large 5" flowers that are colored in red-chocolate in the petals and sepals with reddish mahogany colored markings. The lip is a burgundy, red, violet color. The flowers are long-lasting, from 2-3 months and they will become fragrant after they have been open a few days.

Repotting:
This plant is a vigorous grower, and may need dividing every 2 years. Allow 2 - 3 bulbs for each division. The best time to divide is during the spring months just after flowering or when new growth is just emerging. Do not repot during the heat of summer or the cold of winter, as these are stress periods and will cause the plant to languish.