Darwinara Charm 'Blue Star'

Base Price: $0.00

Cross: (Neof. falcata x Vasco. Tham Yuen Hae)

Intro:
This is a hybrid between Neofinetia falcate and Vascotylis Tham Uyen Hae. One of the rare blue orchids, this plant is easy to grow and free flowering. Good for windowsill and artificial light culture. The flowers are fragrant both day and night.

Light:
This plant prefers medium light from 1500 - 3500 foot-candles. If growing under fluorescent lights, grow about 6 - 8" from the tubes. Under sodium lights, grow approximately 4 feet away from the fixture. This plant will also do well in and east, south, or west window and loves to go outside during the summer months in a filtered light position.

Temperature:
This plant prefers intermediate to warm temperatures. Winter night lows of 60-64 degrees Fahrenheit and daytime highs of 70-80 degrees are ideal. Summer temps can be several degrees warmer.

Humidity:
40 - 50% is ideal or higher. Humidity trays help when at windowsills, or a room humidifier is very helpful if not grown in a greenhouse.

Water:
It is best to use rainwater, distilled or reverse osmosis water. Water as the plant just dries out. The easiest gauge is to use the plastic label that comes with the plant. Pull it out, and if you feel any moisture on the end of the label, do not water as it is still moist. If it feels just barely dry, that is the time to water. An exception to this rule should be when the plant is in bud or flower. At this time, the plant should just approach dryness when watering so that the flowers hold for the longest possible time.

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 can bloom more than once a year in spring or fall. The spikes emerge from between the leaves with 5 to 7 one to one and a half inch flowers colored in a violet blue. They are long lasting and fragrant both day and night.

Repotting:
The best time to repot is in the spring months in a bark mix. Keep dry for the first week to 10 days after repotting .