Hanging Buds To Dry Outdoors

It's a ways off still, but I was curious on anyone's opinion on drying buds outside.

I have no way to hang the bud for the first few days inside, so I've been drafting ideas on how to hang it outdoors to dry.

I was thinking about tying a string several feet in the air, between two trees, then hanging the buds on the string, and then covering with a dark tarp on all sides to block sunlight.

I'd only be doing this for a few days (hopefully), and then move right into paper bags, and then glass jars for the curing steps.

My question is does anyone think that being left exposed to the elements for a few days would dry the weed out too fast, affecting taste and the subsequent cure?

After spending all the effort in growing good buds, I'd like to do the best I could in drying these to preserve the flavor and THC in the drying process.

Any ideas on how I could do this more effectively are welcomed. I've always dried buds indoors, so this is the first time I'll be attempting to do this outdoors for the first few days.

Thanks!

Hey Relax,
Wow! nice question! A little research has shown me that darkness in curing is suppose to be essential as is cool and dry. However I've found here at RIU that what sometimes is the general que of things, isn't always the facts of life. Something simular crossed my mind some time ago and I found here, the "EL Conissure" have each thier own religion on how they go about cure'n thier bud of life. And that others don't and could careless as long as the daaamn stuff will lights up and blesses them. Now you seem the bright type of person "hence the unique question" you asked. People like you generally already know what or at least take the time to figure out what it is you want to accomplish and how your going to go about it. My personal first thought on the matter was of course security, but I'm sure you are well ahead of the game there, or you would'nt have sought additional advise in the first place. In any case most of what might come your way in this matter, if'n people take the time to anwser will probaly be the dark, cool with air dispersal sequence. But "fraid most tokers paranoid neckjerk response would be to call you nuts to even consider it "in the open and all" But yes, some of us do live so far out and beyond or in communities where nobody would'nt have the foggest idea or even care what it is you were doing. Wish you well in your endevours!!

Hey thank you for the nice response Christiandome.

Well security is always paramount, although I do have a very out-of-the-way location which is protected from sight on several different levels.

So where I would be drying these plants would be secure, if I choose to go the route I originally intended.

I guess my biggest question would be how long would I dry these buds outside in a setup like I proposed in my first post? I was thinking 3-4 days, and checking frequently on the 'snap' of the branches as time goes on.

I just really don't want to overdry these initially; that's my biggest concern with this method.

well i'd say that aslong as the conditions are ok then why not......who says 4 walls and a roof makes the diffrence??

I have a nice place to hang them and I'll watch them for you

What will the temperatures be under the tarp? Temperatures above 80 degrees will degrade THC and at around 86 degrees the degradation speeds up rapidly.

It depends. I've done this before, but I had the ability to have a fan on them at all times. I was more concerned about the humidity level in the summer, and as brick mentioned above the temperature as well. I think the answer to your question will vary in large part based upon the climate you're living in. If anything, I'd say that your drying time will actually be a little longer than what you're used to indoors due to the heat and humidity of the summer weather. The tarp is a good idea, and I would also hook up a fan on low speed if you have an electrical outlet close by.

Good luck!

Well the strains I'm gonna be harvesting, G13/Haze and Sour Diesel, won't be ready for harvest until the early part of October, so I should be ok temp wise (click the link in my signature to see what I'm working with).

The humidity will be the biggest problem to deal with. It's likely I will have to wait longer outside then indoors because of this. I realize I'll have to worry about bud rot.

This is a guerilla grow, far from any outlet, so I won't be able to depend on any electricity for help, sadly.

I can also dry them under some trees, under the tarp, so that would block a great majority of the light.

I'm curious if hanging paper bags upside down, threading the line through them, and tie the line to two trees, would work better? I could maybe cut holes in the bags to help prevent excessive moisture, and the paper bag would help absorb some of the moisture.

I get a lotta breeze in the area that I'll be drying them, as the area is cleared out with just a few trees.

I know there are people out there that have dried outdoors while keeping the flavor and THC intact.

Would love to hear from you!

build a drying tent. 'bout all you can do really. this is how most the mountain growers do it. or find a bear cave to hang it in.

Thank you Fdd, I appreciate you responding so fast.

That was an option I was thinking about, as I have a 10'x12' tent, 72 inches tall that might work for that.

My only fear is bud rot, but I guess I'll have to worry about that no matter what.

Guess I'll have to cut some holes in the material and put a screen over it to allow for better air flow.

this is how i dryed last year, hung them up in a shed outside with 2 windows cracked. it was still in mid 70's to low 40s at that time in TN though. they came out nice, very fluffy , broke out nicely, didn stick 2 ur hands but were sticky.