Death Star

Diesel and skunk define the smell of Death Star, an indica-dominant cross of Sensi Star and Sour Diesel that originated in Columbus, in the US state of Ohio, in the early 2000s. The strain is still passed on as a cutting; with Savage Land Exotics, a breeder has since rebuilt the cross as a seed line.

Aroma and Flavor:

Strain descriptions compare the scent to jet fuel with a slight sweetness mixed in, and add pungent, skunky and earthy notes. Tea, pine and garlic also appear, and another description names sour citrus and wood. For flavor, several descriptions say the diesel carries through, accompanied by citrus and some sweetness.

User reports confirm the fuel character. One report calls the flowers extremely gassy, another highlights garlic and sulfur and finds the flavor repulsive. Other impressions differ, such as a light, earthy flavor with a hint of cardamom or a fruity profile with a pine note. Strain descriptions give β-caryophyllene, myrcene and limonene as the leading terpenes, and one of them adds humulene.

Genetics and Origin:

The strain was bred by a group that goes by Team Death Star. According to a 2019 press report, its members came across East Coast Sour Diesel while accompanying bands on tour and received the clone from a grower in Vermont. Back in Ohio, they first crossed it with Bubble Gum and G-13. The breakthrough came with a local cutting of Sensi Star, the Paradise Seeds strain. In the grow room, the seedlings from this combination were called A-, B-, C- and D-Star. The selection got its name at the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee, where an older visitor commented on the flowers with the word Death and a friend turned that into Death Star. Strain descriptions usually list plain Sour Diesel as a parent; according to the breeders, it is the East Coast clone.

In February 2010, High Times put the strain on its cover. At the Michigan Medical Cannabis Country Fair Cup 2016, a Death Star entry placed 5th among hybrid flowers, and at the Midwest Cannabis Cup 2018, a preroll of this strain won first place. Death Star appears as a parent, among others, in Dank Vader by Pisces Genetics, a cross with Chemdog D, and in DeadStar by Mantis Genetics, whose mother is a Death Star clone from Ohio.

Effects:

Reports and strain descriptions portray a relaxing, also drowsy effect that sets in euphorically. One description speaks of an initially stimulating start that turns into sedation without fully immobilizing the body. Some users, however, describe the strain as creative or giggly, others as focused, and one also as energetic; tingling and hunger are mentioned as well. Reported side effects include dry mouth, dry eyes and dizziness, and one report also mentions goosebumps and shivers.

THC Content:

Strain descriptions give THC values between 18 and 27 %. Separately, a 2019 press report cites a single measurement from PSI Labs of 20.51 % THC and 1.11 % CBG. Such values vary by batch, cultivation and phenotype.

Cultivation:

Death Star grows short and stocky and forms hard, dense flowers with heavy trichome coverage. Purple tones can appear on the stems; one description links violet coloring to cooler conditions. According to strain descriptions, flowering takes 7 to 9 weeks, and one description gives mid-October as the outdoor harvest time.

A grow guide recommends indoor cultivation or a greenhouse, soil with organic fertilization and sparing nutrient doses; for training it names SCROG. Another description considers the strain well suited to Sea of Green and hydroponics.

The sources disagree on mold. A press report and a strain description call Death Star mold resistant, whereas the grow guide warns that the compact flowers can rot with too much moisture and recommends low humidity. Estimates for yield also range from medium to high, and for difficulty from easy to moderate.

Versions from Different Breeders:

The original by Team Death Star is a clone-only strain. Savage Land Exotics distributes feminized seeds under the name Deathstar, for which Scott Morrison crossed AJ Sour Diesel with Sensi Star to obtain a phenotype in the style of the Ohio clone. The breeder describes kerosene, metallic notes and burnt rubber in the smell, dense dark green flowers and a strongly physically sedating effect; according to Savage Land Exotics, the plants need well-adjusted conditions.