Drying plant specimens involves a process that begins with preparing the fresh plants for pressing and continues until all moisture is removed, a duration that varies significantly depending on the method used.
Initial Steps in Drying Plant Specimens
Based on standard practice and insights from the provided reference, the initial phase of drying involves preparing the freshly collected plants for pressing. According to the reference:
- The plants, freshly collected, are placed in a press without corrugated sheets.
- The press is then locked for 24 hours.
This initial period helps to start the pressing process and remove some initial moisture before the specimens are typically prepared for longer-term drying.
Drying Duration and Speed
The speed at which plant specimens dry is highly dependent on whether artificial heat is applied.
- Drying of pressed plant specimens is a slow process if no artificial heat is used.
- Natural drying of specimens is a slow process, which may take up to one month for complete drying.
Therefore, without the aid of artificial heat, expect the natural drying process within a press to take a significant amount of time, potentially up to a full month.
While the reference specifically details the initial 24-hour period and the overall duration of natural drying, the process typically involves placing the specimens between absorbent materials (like blotter paper) and sometimes including ventilation elements (like corrugated cardboard) within the press after the initial phase, changing the absorbent materials periodically until drying is complete. However, the provided reference focuses on the initial stage without corrugated sheets and the overall timeframe for natural drying.
