The part of this grow that has me the most worried from no experience is the curing and drying.I've read a few methods but they different so much I have no clue what to do.If someone can tell me an easy way to cure and dry it would be appreciated.I need to know the specifics,how long in the air proof container,how long out of the container and for how many days.I really want my smoke to taste great and burn smooth,dont want to fuck it up at the very end
No worries - if you can make it through the grow, you can dry and cure, too. Here's what I do:
1.Gather your equipment first, and lock the doors. Equipment I use:
-Powder free latex gloves These really help, you won't believe how sticky your fingers get without them, makes it harder to work.
-Clean, sharp scissors or trimmers I use a small pair of hair cutting scissors, they're usually sharper than cheap scissors. You'll want one larger pair as well, so you don't ruin your good ones cutting through thich stems.
-Hangers, string, whatever you're hanging your buds on. I use hangers myself - but you can use something else.
-Clothespins For attatching your buds to the hangers/string.
-Razorblade For scraping off the resin on your scissors periodically, they get too gummed up to work. Don't forget something to put that scissor hash on! I use a small porcelain saucer.
-Small boxes/Newspaper Line the little boxes with newspaper, put your smallest non-hanging buds in this in a single layer.
-Gallon size freezer bags I put my trim in these for Gumby hash.
-Trashcan/bag For trash - makes cleanup a little easier.
-Masking tape Easiest way to mark off your different strains, if you so desire.
-Radio/drink You're gonna be in there awhile!
2.Set up everything in your desired area. Lay newspaper in front of your (and anyone else's) workstation, for catching trim as you go.
3.Each person get a plant and set in front of them.
4.I've found it a bit easier to remove the large fan leaves first - not the smaller ones, as these often have trichs on them, suitable for the trim pile. Easiest way to remove - grasp stem close to the main stalk (support stalk in other hand if it feels like it wants to bend) and make a quick, downward pull - it should come right off. If that isn't working for you - there's always your scissors. I put these big ones right in the trash.
5.Start wherever you like - I usually remove the smaller outer branches first. Cut off your chosen branch. Finish any leaf removal needed - smaller trich-laden leaves on your newspaper, for hash. Pluck tiny, wispy budlets for your hash pile. Moving up, trim any buds you think big enough to smoke (I usually go anything larger than the end of my pinky). Trimming tip: if you look at the bud you're trimming from underneath, often you can see the stem of the smaller, pesky leaves, that you can't see from the top. Usually a small snip with the tip of your scissors will allow you to remove the entire leaf, instead of trimming each blade individually.
Small buds for your box can be clipped off at the stalk, they each have their own little stem - pop 'em right into your popcorn box. Larger ones - I trim about even with the bud - no need to remove the tiniest leaves.
6.You're down to your "hanging" buds on the stem now, right? Notice that aside from your main cola, the smaller buds grow in pairs or triplets around the stalk. You can leave each pair (or triplet) on the stalk, and cut the stalk instead - leave around three inches of stem to hang with - any more and you are increasing your drying time. (Most of the moistuire stays longest in the stem) Do the same with the colas. I just flip it upside down, and use a closthepin for each bud. Make sure they aren't touching!
7.Put your trim in the gallon bags if you're making gumby hash or cannabutter. If you're doing something different, you'll need to dry that out first, same way as the popcorn buds.
8. Hang your boxes as well.
9.Put a small fan blowing on low in with the buds.
10. Clean up the area - you're done!
Check the buds twice a day, morning and evening. Stir any box buds gently. They'll be the first to dry enough to cure - usually in about three to four days. You want them to feel crisp on the outside, but not crumbley. If you don't wait for that crisp feeling, they will be much much wetter than you want, in the jars. Feel the larger buds as well - same feeling on the outside, but you also have stem to check. If they bend without breaking at all, it's too wet still.
I use glass jars to cure in. Doesn't really matter what kind, so long as they have a tight lid.
Once you have bud in jars (this will be staggered because of the different sizes) you'll want to burp it twice a day at first. Don't pack them full - leave a quarter of the jar empty at first. Open the jar (wait a second before sniffing, that first puff of plant gas is icky). Move the bud around, turn it, make sure it isn't molding. Let it sit open for ten minutes or so. Reseal, repeat in the evening. As they get drier, you can cut back to once a day, until they are dry enough not to mold.
Usually takes mine about five days for the largest buds to be dry enough to jar - may be more or less, depending on the temp and humidity in your drying area.
Hope all this helps.
...what is the odor level like when drying??if its strong,then i have to harvest all at one time and dry in the tent where the carbon filter on the exhaust fan is.If its not too strong then i can chop whats ready and put in my closet to dry and let the bottom buds finish before chopping them,which is better to me,but i only get one shot at it,i either chop all or i hope for not much of an odor while drying and let the bottom buds finish while the tops dry in my closet.
Yes - the smell after chopping is
very strong - if that's a problem, you might wanna do the whole plant rather than stagger it.