What are the key techniques for artificial cultivation of Gastrodia elata?

(1) The nutrients for Gastrodia elata come from the fungal wood, so the cultivated fungal wood must first be free of contaminating microbes; second, have dense, tender mycelial strands; and third, not be aged.

(2) Use local seeds and plant them as soon as they are harvested; storage time should not be too long. For seeds from elsewhere, they must not be knocked about during transport; pack them with a layer of green mud moss and a layer of Gastrodia elata seed tubers, and minimize transport and storage time as much as possible.

(3) When planting, the seed tubers must be pressed tightly against the fungal wood and placed where the mycelial strands are dense. When covering with soil, do it gently and be careful not to separate the seed tubers from the fungal wood.

(4) The covering soil should be sandy soil or a mixed soil of wheat bran, sawdust and soil at 1/3 each, covered to a thickness of 15-20 cm.

(5) According to the local climate, in winter cover the pit or bed cellar with 15-20 cm of sawdust or 15-20 cm of decomposed or semi-decomposed fallen leaves; in warm areas, cover with a layer of wheat straw, rice straw or corn stalks to keep warm.

(6) In the rainy season, dig drainage ditches around the pit, and the ditches should be deeper than the pit. People and livestock must be strictly kept from trampling the pit.

(7) From June to August, make more permanent fungus beds.