Fan leaves and stems for cannabutter. Help!

So I grew a couple plants this year. Both had minimal amounts of bud (first time grower and had to grow outside, bad conditions etc) either way I really wanna make butter out of my leaves and stems. Here’s my big question. Do I need to dry the leaves before making butter (yes I know I have to decarb first) but do I decarb fresh leaves or dry leaves? And if I’m drying the leaves first how dry should they be? How long should I hang the leaves to dry for? I’m getting so much conflicting information on the web that yesterday I cut off big stalks of leaves and hung them to dry but now I’m worried they should have been used fresh and I don’t know if I messed it up already by hanging them overnight.

Help!!!!

Pics? It's a female right?

Dry leaves are better I've heard, I've also had buddy's make wax out of wet trim and it does not work well,, the whole process of making butter requires dried herb so the longer you can stretch the drying process the better but they'll probably dry relatively fast, keep a fan on them, don't want them molding up

Yes it had buds! I just had loads of problems during growing.

WashingtonFarmer420 said:

Dry leaves are better I've heard, I've also had buddy's make wax out of wet trim and it does not work well,, the whole process of making butter requires dried herb so the longer you can stretch the drying process the better but they'll probably dry relatively fast, keep a fan on them, don't want them molding up

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Will do! Fortunately I’m in California and it’s dry as can be they are drying out quickly. I have them hanging upside down. Is there a better method for drying?

You must dry the product first, before decarb. Without drying, the moisture would keep the temp below 100'C, so decarbing would be excruciatingly slow -- unless, of course, you use a pressure cooker.

Meh not that I can think of, putting them in a jar will just increase the chance of mold unless your willing to take it out and give it all fresh air every 3-4 hours or so,, I've done paper bags before but depending on how wet it is it still may not be the best idea unless your really tentative to it,, should crumble to flakes in your fingers though before you start decarbing

graying.geek said:

You must dry the product first, before decarb. Without drying, the moisture would keep the temp below 100'C, so decarbing would be excruciatingly slow -- unless, of course, you use a pressure cooker.

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How do I know when it’s dry enough?

It will crumble to flakes when you slightly rub a leaf in between your fingers,, you should definitely know when it's ready, won't take long, just a little more patience and you'll have some dank edibles

Newbielisa said:

How do I know when it’s dry enough?

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You can probably tell when it's dry, but you can just chop it up, put on a cookie sheet in a 70'C oven for 30 minutes and you're good.

WashingtonFarmer420 said:

It will crumble to flakes when you slightly rub a leaf in between your fingers,, you should definitely know when it's ready, won't take long, just a little more patience and you'll have some dank edibles

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Thank you guys! I really appreciate the help! I was so confused!

Fan leaves and stems particularly if your plants didn’t bloom properly will contain little to no canabanoids.

Only buds and bud leaves and if the plant is real frosty close larger leaves.

Buds and sugar leaf would be better but it can be done with fan leafs, just less potent but if ya got some butter might as well not waste what you have