Standardizing dehydration technology for ornamental plant parts of shrubs form mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh

In the present study efforts have been made to standardize the dehydration technology for fifteen important ornamental shrubs viz., Asclepias curassavica, Asparagus adscendens, Caesalpinia sanguinea, Hypericum, oblongifolium, Inula cappa, Inula cuspidata, Jasminum humik, Reinward ia indica, Sambucus nigra, Spiraea corymbosa and Woodforida fruticosa from mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh The ornamental plant parts viz., flowers, flowering shoots or shoots have been dried in solar dryer, hot air oven, microwave oven and at room temperature with or without desiccants viz., silica gel, river sand, saw dust and boric granules under different temperatures for varied durations. The ornamental plant parts of these shrubs were subjected to twenty treatments. Based on colour and shape, these dried plant parte were given scores and best drying methods (treatments) have been worked out for individual species. In the present paper all methods for drying of ornamental plant parts of these shrubs have been discussed. Further, the dried ornamental plant parts have been used in preparing various floral crafts.