Drying Update, this is one week after harvest.
I decided to do three methods of drying to see which one gives the better result.
1) Dry with leaves on in open air
2) Dry with leaves on in plastic bag
3) Trim during harvest then let dry in open air
Dry method #1 : Dry with leaves on.
--------------------
At harvest I cut just a little of the tops of the leaves and hung them upside down to dry. Over a couple of days the leaves droop and cover the bud. This helps slow drying by keeping moisture between the leaves and the bud.
I chose my middle branches for this method.
Were I live there is almost no humidity so drying is very quick. After 5 days the leaves were crisp (crunchy) and fell apart when squeezed. Underneath the leaves the outside of the bud was also crispy so this was a good time to trim. Checking the branches, they snap when I bend it 90 degrees but did not break in half. After trimming the bud stems are still a little moist, chewy, and perfect for going into a jar for curing.
Today I checked the bud inside the jars and became spongy again, not moist, but not crispy anymore. So curing process has begun for these guys.
Dry method #2 - Dry inside plastic bags
--------------------
The theory with this method is by slowing down the drying process it will make denser and danker bud.
I chose the best looking branches and the main cola for this method. After 7 full days of drying, the leaves didn't droop and pretty much looked just like she did when I chopped her down. There has been a tiny bit of drying but not much.
I trimmed after 7 days because trimming when the leaves are dry is a real pain the ass.
Trimming the bud after 7 days in the bag I'll tell this stunk up my whole house. Wife not pleased.
But yes smelled dank.
The bud was quite wet so over night I left the bag off and the next morning I put it back on. So for the next week I'll repeat this, one day on, one day off till she's dry enough to put into jars for curing.
Dry method #3 - Trim after harvest then Dry.
--------------------
Theory here is if you want to dry your bud fast, trim it right away then hang it up to dry.
I chose my junk bud for this method, lower branches, this is the bud I'll use to make BHO and hash from. So I don't care about taste or flavour.
After 5 days of drying the stem broke in half and the bud was extremely dry. I cut them off the main stem and put them into a freezer bag. After three days in the bag the outside bud is still dry and crispy so these guys are done.
Future Recommendations: For ease of trimming I'll trim ASAP after harvest. If I want to retain moisture for a longer period, hang them upside down in a plastic bag.
Next week I'll have the dry weight and a smoke report.
Cheers
- SB -
, yeah just about fell over when I heard that. It's a different kind of smell, very citrus-y with a little skunk to it.
