Standardizing dehydration technology for ornamental plant parts of trees from outer Himalayas

Outer Himalayan region is rich in plant wealth, comprising a wide variety of ornamental trees occurring in wild or naturalized state. In the present study ornamental plant parts of twenty eight important ornamental trees 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 acid under different temperatures for varied duration in twenty treatment combinations. Based on colour, shape, texture, these dried plants were given scores and best drying method (treatments) have been worked out for individual species. Silica gel (60–120 mesh) has been found the best absorbent for removing moisture from the flowers and followed by boric acid (granule). Drying in solar dryer was at par with hot air oven at 45°C or microwave oven (450 Wt), thus an economically cheaper method of dehydration.