Drying and curing confusion Please Help

Please help.

I'll start by saying I'm a relatively new grower. I have found plenty of information out there to reference my questions however it is very inconsistent. We have began harvesting our crops. They go into a controlled room for hang dry. We trim about 90 percent of the foliage off before we hang it. I've read trim it, don't trim it, leaves some leaves if the climate is dry and take more if it's humid. We live in NorCal so it's dry. I fear the bud will smell like hay, like it has the past 2 times. After it has been hanging for 3 days, our larger branches stems snap but the bud at top closest to the line is still moist. Our very small branches do not snap. Bud feels kind of crispy but not dry, still spongy at the towards the bottom of the branch. The controlled room is between 65 and 69 degrees and the humidity is between 53 and 60 percent. The room isn't top dollar controlled but it's the best we could do in the dry climate. We have one small oscillating fan not blowing on the buds themselves and an exhaust fan running every 6 hours for 15 minutes at a time. The bud is losing its smell completely and some of it gaining a hint on hay smell. I figured I'd experiment a little and took a few branches off and put them in paper bags with the top closed, still smelling rough after a day. Took and filled a mason jar 3/4 the way and put a hygrometer in, it's reading 72 to 78 percent. I know that's too high, however the bud feels dry. I'm going crazy reading everything I can to figure out what step I've missed and I really do not want to ruin another 12 crops. The buds smell amazing Going in, start smelling like hay a few days later. Do they need more time on the lines? More time in paper bags? Just leave them and burp the jars? The jars smell like humid hay. I don't know if it makes a difference but it's outdoor. Please help and any advice will be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

A very simple way that I deal with that Issue is to put the buds in a jar like you did and then put one envelope of Boveda in each jar. The Boveda will control the humidity and the dryness, the buds will be able to cure properly while keeping its smell.
I have been using the Boveda packs for many years, I used to put them in my cigar box to keep the perfect humidity.
They cost .99c or buy by the dozen. It is basically a foolproof way of curing your smoke.
You won't regret it. Good luck.

Sounds like they need more time on the line drying. My conditions are similar to yours and I also trim wet before I hang them up to dry. I let mine go a full 7 days before they see the glass jars and since I know they're dry enough going in by checking, of course, I only burp the jars 1 time after two or three days and that's it. It's always great to experiment, this is how we learn, but in your case, I think you've gone and placed the cart ahead of the horses, my friend. Good luck and I hope this helps you some.

Yea scratch the damn paper bag...throw those in the trash...try and stay around 60 rh, get some of those bovedas if your not good at burping and what not...just stop using bags now..,imo

wiethe20 said:

Yea scratch the damn paper bag...throw those in the trash...try and stay around 60 rh, get some of those bovedas if your not good at burping and what not...just stop using bags now..,imo

Click to expand...

Thank you for the reply. So keep the room at 60% rh or the jars at 60%? Yeah, the paper bag step seems to be horrible.

Confused Havester said:

Thank you for the reply. So keep the room at 60% rh or the jars at 60%? Yeah, the paper bag step seems to be horrible.

Click to expand...

It was relying to your op saying 53-60% rh....key is you need a slooowww dry at least 6 or 7 days hung...it's a fine line between low humidity and high humidity just have to find a sweet spot to your temperature ...with your temps I'd say 60-61ish would be fine 7 days...into jars get some boveda 62s and turn jars don't let it bunch and mold in the middle...low hum =hay high hum=mold ....

tazz&indy said:

View attachment 3514568 A very simple way that I deal with that Issue is to put the buds in a jar like you did and then put one envelope of Boveda in each jar. The Boveda will control the humidity and the dryness, the buds will be able to cure properly while keeping its smell.
I have been using the Boveda packs for many years, I used to put them in my cigar box to keep the perfect humidity.
They cost .99c or buy by the dozen. It is basically a foolproof way of curing your smoke.
You won't regret it. Good luck.

Click to expand...

So will the Boveda packs stabilize the humidity at 62 or just bring it up to 62 if it's low?

Confused Havester said:

So will the Boveda packs stabilize the humidity at 62 or just bring it up to 62 if it's low?

Click to expand...

They will do both. It will add some moisture if a little too dry or stabilize the RH to 62% if a little too high. The approach is to slowly and steadily drop moisture to the target RH. I can't hang mine too long because of low humidity ( in my area ) so as soon as I get to 68/70% ) checking with hygrometer. I start to add a pack. After 24 hours I remove pack and reseal with hygrometer only . If still a little high I leave top off of jar for a while then close up jar for another 24. It allows me to dial in the RH. once I get within a percentage or two I leave BOVEDA to do the hard work. They are a great item to use and come in multiple RH RATINGS - I'm waiting for a 55% or 60% to be offered. They work in all containers ( jars) or other like a CVAULT.

Try to not " totally " rely on BOVEDA , I have noticed it will " steal " some of the danky smell. Then I remove it and the smell returns.

Budzbuddha said:

They will do both. It will add some moisture if a little too dry or stabilize the RH to 62% if a little too high. The approach is to slowly and steadily drop moisture to the target RH. I can't hang mine too long because of low humidity ( in my area ) so as soon as I get to 68/70% ) checking with hygrometer. I start to add a pack. After 24 hours I remove pack and reseal with hygrometer only . If still a little high I leave top off of jar for a while then close up jar for another 24. It allows me to dial in the RH. once I get within a percentage or two I leave BOVEDA to do the hard work. They are a great item to use and come in multiple RH RATINGS - I'm waiting for a 55% or 60% to be offered. They work in all containers ( jars) or other like a CVAULT.

Try to not " totally " rely on BOVEDA , I have noticed it will " steal " some of the danky smell. Then I remove it and the smell returns.

View attachment 3516502 View attachment 3516504

Click to expand...

Thank you for all the good info, I really appreciate it. I got the packs today the 62 ones. I'm trying your method right now. The stuff has been hanging for 8 days now, and when I put it in the jar without the pack, it was at 71%rh, so I'm leaving the jar open for the night and hopefully it comes down. It's such a delicate process especially for me because I'm so new to it that I feel like one botched step is going to ruin it all. Nerve wrecking. The stuff that has been hanging for 8 days feels dry and crispy but still spongy, and after going into the jar, it seems wetter than I expected.

Also, when you say you leave them in there to do the hard work, you still burp them right? Just trying to be thorough. Thanks.

when trimming i prefer to use screens rooms set low 60's rh 50 - 55 wet trimmed after 4- 5 days outter parts should be fairly dry i then place all buds into a garbage bag press out air twist and place in a dark and cool place for 7 - 8 hrs sweating out moisure this is where any buds that are to dry will become moist ,,place back screens for 8 -12hrs bag
In your case some are drying , faster then others i would then do the same place all buds into a garbage bag roll it up and place it in a dark cool place to sweat out or get rid of the stems and place into a garbage bag you can use door screens for final 8 - 12 hrs of drying and even out the moisture after your 6 - 8 hrs re hang them then 8 - 12 hrs later bag them in half pound bags burb daily and your done
i never ever in all the years of drying got the hay smell like so many claim ??? i even chopped some buds off my out door plant to test presently drying in a closet no enviroment at all stunk up the whole house like 3 buds and the smell is out of this world

Darth Vapour said:

when trimming i prefer to use screens rooms set low 60's rh 50 - 55 wet trimmed after 4- 5 days outter parts should be fairly dry i then place all buds into a garbage bag press out air twist and place in a dark and cool place for 7 - 8 hrs sweating out moisure this is where any buds that are to dry will become moist ,,place back screens for 8 -12hrs bag
In your case some are drying , faster then others i would then do the same place all buds into a garbage bag roll it up and place it in a dark cool place to sweat out or get rid of the stems and place into a garbage bag you can use door screens for final 8 - 12 hrs of drying and even out the moisture after your 6 - 8 hrs re hang them then 8 - 12 hrs later bag them in half pound bags burb daily and your done
i never ever in all the years of drying got the hay smell like so many claim ??? i even chopped some buds off my out door plant to test presently drying in a closet no enviroment at all stunk up the whole house like 3 buds and the smell is out of this world

Click to expand...

That's interesting. The bud doesn't gain the plastic smell from the bags? I'm going to give it a try for sure. Pretty much trial and error but I'm fortunate to have the help from you guys. I'll post an update soon. Thanks again.

nope your good to go

Confused Havester said:

So will the Boveda packs stabilize the humidity at 62 or just bring it up to 62 if it's low?

Click to expand...

It will do both, that is why I like it so much, it will bring humidity up and down. Works both ways.

Darth Vapour said:

when trimming i prefer to use screens rooms set low 60's rh 50 - 55 wet trimmed after 4- 5 days outter parts should be fairly dry i then place all buds into a garbage bag press out air twist and place in a dark and cool place for 7 - 8 hrs sweating out moisure this is where any buds that are to dry will become moist ,,place back screens for 8 -12hrs bag
In your case some are drying , faster then others i would then do the same place all buds into a garbage bag roll it up and place it in a dark cool place to sweat out or get rid of the stems and place into a garbage bag you can use door screens for final 8 - 12 hrs of drying and even out the moisture after your 6 - 8 hrs re hang them then 8 - 12 hrs later bag them in half pound bags burb daily and your done
i never ever in all the years of drying got the hay smell like so many claim ??? i even chopped some buds off my out door plant to test presently drying in a closet no enviroment at all stunk up the whole house like 3 buds and the smell is out of this world

Click to expand...

How many times do you go between screen then bag then screen?

wiethe20 said:

Yea scratch the damn paper bag...throw those in the trash...try and stay around 60 rh, get some of those bovedas if your not good at burping and what not...just stop using bags now..,imo

Click to expand...

Hey dude.. Just curious what you see as the negative effects of using the paper bags? I know some seem to have great luck and others say to stay away. I've put some straight to jars, and some in paper bags for a day or 2 between the hanging and jars. Havent noticed any major differences... Yet. Still learning all the processes.

upinthesticks said:

Hey dude.. Just curious what you see as the negative effects of using the paper bags? I know some seem to have great luck and others say to stay away. I've put some straight to jars, and some in paper bags for a day or 2 between the hanging and jars. Havent noticed any major differences... Yet. Still learning all the processes.

Click to expand...

It's just my imo, could be wrong, could be right....but when I have done it 1 pointless step and 2 made everything smell like hay easier then anything else...honestly I really don't even get the hay smell my bud smells the whole time really, call me crazy but I think so lol

If you have a decent dry- to say mid 60s humidity- if you are in sealed jars with a boveda in each and a meter in 2 or 3 jars just to doublecheck, is it still nessecary to burp? Seems counterproductive if you are trying to encourage anarobic bacteria... thanks

rily said:

If you have a decent dry- to say mid 60s humidity- if you are in sealed jars with a boveda in each and a meter in 2 or 3 jars just to doublecheck, is it still nessecary to burp? Seems counterproductive if you are trying to encourage anarobic bacteria... thanks

Click to expand...

The drying temp as to do with it a long with rh...where was your temps?

70 to 76 in the drying room/cabinet- but I don't see what temp has to do with burping the sealed jars or not?