An easier way to get shards?

[Ostwar]

Ever since Heavensward, getting crystals and clusters were made incredibly easy thanks to aetherial reduction. I can send retainers to gather shards but at a really low rate per hour, when I could get the same amount of crystals by aetherial reducing 2 collectibles in 2 seconds.

Or am I missing something? Send retainer on a mission, and go gather myself while I wait. I could trade tokens from Diadem but now nobody does that place anymore.

Plant them in your garden or FC gardens, they grow 75 shards per plant with grade 2 shroud soil in 24 hours.