A Complete Guide to Bletilla striata Seed Selection and Seedling Cultivation Methods

Bletilla striata is a perennial herbaceous plant with persistent roots of the genus Bletilla in the orchid family. Besides being widely used in the field of Chinese medicinal herbs, it can also be used industrially as a paste material or for extracting Bletilla gum. At present, market demand for Bletilla striata is growing day by day, and wild Bletilla striata is nearly exhausted, which has given rise to a wave of farmers rushing to plant Bletilla striata. However, because there are many Bletilla striata varieties, mixed seed sources are unavoidable. To grow Bletilla striata well, selecting good seeds is a crucial step.

How are Bletilla striata seeds selected?

Bletilla striata seeds are powdery; the Bletilla striata seed pod is an entire flower-fruit, and inside the pod are the powdery Bletilla striata seeds. Generally, each Bletilla striata seed pod contains 100,000-300,000 seeds, but Bletilla striata seeds have no endosperm and cannot germinate normally under natural conditions. When selecting seeds, first observe whether their color is white; if it is not white, they are not good Bletilla striata seeds.

In addition, if buying seeds online, be sure to choose a legitimate platform and a high-quality seller. As for the variety, it depends specifically on your own needs; for example, in the chemical industry the purple-flowered Sancha large Bletilla striata is mostly used, while the pharmacopoeia records that medicinal use is mainly based on the purple-flowered Sancha small Bletilla striata, and other yellow-flowered and white-flowered Bletilla striata are customary substitutes and adulterants of Bletilla striata. 

What are the seedling cultivation methods?

1. Prepare nutrient soil

For growing Bletilla striata seedlings from seed, pay attention to choosing the cultivation soil. Bletilla striata is suitable for growing in a moist environment, so the soil should preferably be sandy soil, and the soil must also be ensured to have good air permeability, which is more conducive to water penetration. Place the cultivation soil in a pot, press it lightly and level it off, then pour some nutrient solution onto the pot.

2. Sowing

After sowing Bletilla striata seeds, fertilize in time. For fertilizer, organic fertilizer is recommended. Because Bletilla striata is difficult to cultivate, it is very hard to propagate and cultivate it on a large scale. When fertilizing, also pay attention to turning the soil evenly so that the soil and fertilizer are mixed evenly; only then can it grow normally.

3. Sowing management

Sow the seeds evenly in the prepared seedling pot. After sowing, spray water mist on top to slowly moisten the seeds so that the seeds and nutrient soil fit together. Water promptly after sowing, watering until water soaks into the bottom tray below the seedling pot, once every night, keeping the temperature at 15-25°C. Generally after one week the seeds will turn green, after about 20 days they will sprout, and after three months there will be small seedlings with 2 to 3 leaves. Spray foliar fertilizer 3-5 days after sprouting.

4. Transplanting

 In spring, the temperature gradually rises, which is most suitable for transplanting. During transplanting, the air permeability and moisture retention of the substrate directly determine the survival rate of Bletilla striata seedlings. Therefore, for the transplanting substrate of tissue-cultured Bletilla striata seedlings, it is recommended to use 30% perlite + 30% expanded vermiculite + 10% coconut husk + 10% charcoal residue + 20% fresh loess and other substrates, all of which can achieve very good results, with a transplanting survival rate of over 90%.

5. Post-sowing management

3 to 5 months after sowing, check the number of seedlings, thin them out, and promote the growth of underground tubers. Irrigate promptly during drought, and weed regularly at the same time, removing weeds early and while they are small. Before the seeds turn green, control the temperature at 15-35°C; after the seeds germinate, control the temperature at 15-25°C.

At present, Bletilla striata cultivation is found throughout the provinces of China's Yangtze River basin. Although the scope of application and usage amount of Bletilla striata have increased, and the prospects are excellent, the corresponding costs are also increasing, and there are many technical essentials for planting, so before planting, everyone must clearly consider the market risks.

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