What are the three key points for storing Gastrodia elata seeds in winter?

1. Harvesting. From late October to the end of November, while harvesting commercial Gastrodia elata, also harvest the tuberous root seeds. Select fresh, pest- and disease-free, undamaged small white Gastrodia tubers, air-dry them for 1-2 days to remove some moisture, then gather and store them for use as seeds the following year.

2. Temperature. Place the Gastrodia tubers, after some moisture has been air-dried off, in layers inside a wooden box, brick pit, or large earthen basin. Cover each layer with moist sandy soil. First spread a base layer of yellow sand, then place a layer of Gastrodia seeds on top, and repeat this for 4-5 layers. The storage temperature should be kept at 2-5°C. Do not let the temperature fluctuate too much, as this may affect the dormancy of the Gastrodia seeds and cause them to rot.

3. Humidity. During storage, check frequently. If disease spots or mold are found on the Gastrodia seeds, promptly reduce the water content of the sandy soil and pick out the rotten tubers. If the Gastrodia seeds are found to be shrinking or wrinkling, mix a little water into the sandy soil. In short, the suitable humidity for the sandy soil used to store Gastrodia is such that it can be formed into a ball by hand and breaks apart as soon as it is tossed.