400w MH & HPS ~ 4 plant Blue Cheese ~ ScroG

[KushCanuck]

You bet, I go 3 days, haha. So 72 hours I suppose. Same concept as flower switch, just want them to know it`s the end and squeeze out everything she`s got. Helps purge a bit of moisture, but I still keep my drying time of 7-10 days before curing for another 2 weeks minimum. Never skimp on the last step, seen too many awesome grows turn shit because they jumped the gun

KC

 

[CPmass]

Can you walk me through your curing process? That's still giving me issues..

 

[KushCanuck]

Yep, need a coffee though. I`ll be back in a few and drop a little process on ya

KC

 

[CPmass]

Yep, need a coffee though. I`ll be back in a few and drop a little process on ya

KC

Apparently.. marijuana really does affect the memory.

Quick update on the clones. They were in the last of the Miracle Grow I had, which in turn gave life to an army of fungus gnats. Had to strip them of media down to the roots, then gave them a bath in 6ppm RO. Was worried whether or not they'd recover from such a hardcore repot. Here's what they look like 48hrs. later..

Individual scrog plant repotted into medium veg pot.



Pair of clones I topped, for shits and giggles.. Also repotted bareroot into a medium veg pot.



And a couple of the smaller kids just repotted into grow cups.



As for the scrog, it seems to be fattening up a bit.

 

[Javadog]

Apparently.. marijuana really does affect the memory.

LOL. I am sure that something just grabbed KC's attention.

That is the fun thing about having more that one needs....that one can experiment.

I tried the water cure with a couple of budsicles. The early verdict is that I miss the stink. :0)

I also put a few nugs into a paper bag in the freezer after the initial dry. so-so.

So far, initial dry -> paper bags for a few days -> into the jars worked for Crop #1.
Crop #2 went from initial dry right into the jars. I wanted it to be more moist, to
take more time to drop while in the jars.

Curing is part of the process that I am still getting a feeling for.

JD

 

[CPmass]

So which do you recommend, paper bag or no? And how long are you keeping things jarred before you consider them "ready"?
I don't have the money to spend on a bunch of small hygrometers, so I have to burp the jars as I go and just guess when they're actually ready.

 

[Javadog]

I might skip the bag for simplicity.

Your by-touch method is likely to be as good as most.

I only have one hygrometer that I use when curing.
I have several, including a couple cool German human hair
models, but none fit neatly into a mason jar. (mycology)
The little one fits into the jars with the buds. I leave it there
for a while. It gives me a feeling for how moist the buds are.

I am not sure what the final target % is though.

I want it into the 60's just to convince me that it will not mold
in the jars when I am not looking.

JD

 

[CPmass]

Awesome, you even answered my next question. What humidity are we shooting for in the curing jars?
thanks Java.
still curious to hear KC's method..

 

[KushCanuck]

Apparently.. marijuana really does affect the memory.

HAHA, I laughed so hard when I got back and saw this . Got a call from my associate at my Patient Factory who had an issue so I had to emergency travel to see him and help out. Rearranged everything in my area and ordered a new fan, few more seeds, and some other stuff. But yeah ...

Can you walk me through your curing process? That's still giving me issues..

The process I use (depending on strain of course, dense vs leafy/airy) is a 7-10 day dark-dry period and then into 1L mason jars (very loosely packed) in my bread closet (stays cool, dark) for minimum 2 weeks opening the jars for a couple (literally 2-3) minutes a day. Depends what I`m going for, the longer I leave them seems to have a postive affect on potency, whereas when I take the cure early the terps and flavor seem to more present. I leave my Sativas for 4 weeks and most of my Indica (patient material mostly) for 25 days. Hope this helps, sorry about the lag time, feel fee to fire away with questions

**EDIT - Generally my RO is 30-35% for the mason jar cure stage, FYI **
KC

 

[Javadog]

KC, what RH% would you like to see before you call the cure complete?

I use a Caliber hygrometer, and can put it right into my half gallon mason jars.



It seems like anywhere below 70% or so can work, but what is too dry?

Thanks for the time.

JD

 

[KushCanuck]

KC, what RH% would you like to see before you call the cure complete?

I use a Caliber hygrometer, and can put it right into my half gallon mason jars.

View attachment 2634348

It seems like anywhere below 70% or so can work, but what is too dry?

Thanks for the time.

JD

No worries JD, would`ve gotten back to you sooner, but I can tell it`s going to be a busy week, haha

Cool idea having the meter inside your container (althoughin your case you could bump to gallon jars and keep them loose), would give you a better idea of their specific conditions I suppose. During my 2-6 weeks my RH stays right at 35% generally and I like no less then 15%, too dry IMO, start losing some of that taste profile you worked so hard for. I`d suggest about the same for your set-up, keeping in ind your RH will be higher in the first week (not much) as the moisture is still disappating (hence why we crack the lid every day). Once I get to days 14-17, I crack the jar every other day once to keep that RH stable.

I find an area temperature of 60-65F, with darkness works the best as it bring out a touch of color, and keeps all your terp flavors intact. Generally speaking you won`t need longer than 28 days in the jars before you have some AAAA smoke

KC

 

[CPmass]

This is awesome, you guys rock.
My thread has become my quick reference point to those questions I always forget the answers to.
My little cheat sheet if you will.

Still one question I need clarification on KC, just to cover my loose ends.
What are your preferred drying conditions? Dark, I know.. but how about temps and humidity?

 

[KushCanuck]

This is awesome, you guys rock.
My thread has become my quick reference point to those questions I always forget the answers to.
My little cheat sheet if you will.

Still one question I need clarification on KC, just to cover my loose ends.
What are your preferred drying conditions? Dark, I know.. but how about temps and humidity?

That`s what the journal is all about!! Hopefully you can look back on each strain you run and have a reference (I`m also a paper note freak as RIU has gone down on me before, haha). See here brother,

No worries JD, would`ve gotten back to you sooner, but I can tell it`s going to be a busy week, haha

Cool idea having the meter inside your container (althoughin your case you could bump to gallon jars and keep them loose), would give you a better idea of their specific conditions I suppose. During my 2-6 weeks my RH stays right at 35% generally and I like no less then 15%, too dry IMO, start losing some of that taste profile you worked so hard for. I`d suggest about the same for your set-up, keeping in ind your RH will be higher in the first week (not much) as the moisture is still disappating (hence why we crack the lid every day). Once I get to days 14-17, I crack the jar every other day once to keep that RH stable.

I find an area temperature of 60-65F, with darkness works the best as it bring out a touch of color, and keeps all your terp flavors intact. Generally speaking you won`t need longer than 28 days in the jars before you have some AAAA smoke
KC

Bolded areas are the stuff you want to focus on, will be very, very nice quality afterwards

KC

 

[CPmass]

oh, so it's the same conditions for drying and curing?

 

[Javadog]

Curing really is what one might call drying. Controlled drying is perhaps better.

It is true that at the beginning we want to lose moisture faster than we do later,
but it is always decreasing. Some might call the early phase drying because the
buds are not in a container.*

It is also confusing that we are referring to the RH both of the air in which we
hang the buds and the air inside the containers that we are curing in.

I am still needing to nail down that final desired RH *inside a curing/storing container*
that one should aim to burp down to?

i.e. if I were to buy a Boveda pack for use with buds, then what RH would I buy?

:0)

Take care,

JD

* This is totally just my opinion. "Curing" might mean to some only that time when
the buds are in their container and are breaking down *without* fresh air exchanges.

But we are talking about getting buds from green to smokeable.....i.e. it is just these
fresh air exchanges that we are focusing on.

 

[CPmass]

I just assumed that when talking about RH during the "drying" phase, we are referring to the room humidity. And when talking about RH during the "curing" process, we are referring to the container humidity.
Humidity is a large factor in the carnivorous plant hobby. So I just naturally keep a close watch on it at all times, regardless of what phase I'm in. Probably why you keep seeing me ask what it should be during each phase of our grow & harvest.

From what I've gathered through reading about curing, it really depends on the person what the final RO should be inside the containers. If I wasn't so forgetful and stoned, I would've put together some sort of average.

 

[KushCanuck]

Basically the two are hand in hand with the Drying phase at an RH of no higher than 40%, and the curing being no higher than 35%. You`re essentially stepping down the dampness as to not quick dry the buds, but more a natural, even drying/curing. I believe that`s what you`re after.


In a perfect world --- Germination = approx 80% RH, Veg = approx 60% RH, flower = approx 50% RH, Drying 40% RH, Curing under 35% RH

KC

 

[CPmass]

Basically the two are hand in hand with the Drying phase at an RH of no higher than 40%, and the curing being no higher than 35%. You`re essentially stepping down the dampness as to not quick dry the buds, but more a natural, even drying/curing. I believe that`s what you`re after.


In a perfect world --- Germination = approx 80% RH, Veg = approx 60% RH, flower = approx 50% RH, Drying 40% RH, Curing under 35% RH

KC

Finally an answer to all my questions!!
In all the damn noob forums, "How To" sticky threads, and info tutorials I've read.. not a one ever put it as simplistic and straight forward as you just did. And in so few words. Someone should give this man a raise!
Now just to figure out how to squeeze your quote into my signature and we'll be all set.

 

[KushCanuck]

Finally an answer to all my questions!!
In all the damn noob forums, "How To" sticky threads, and info tutorials I've read.. not a one ever put it as simplistic and straight forward as you just did. And in so few words. Someone should give this man a raise!
Now just to figure out how to squeeze your quote into my signature and we'll be all set.

Awww , haha. Try just clicking the post number (top right of post) and copy the link in your browser. Should let you put in something like `Germination` in your sig and hyperlink (paste) so it can be accessed here. Get you more traffic too. Just trying to be of assistance when I can

KC

 

[CPmass]

I know how to hyperlink and all that jazz.. but when I click the post number or try to link the post number it just pulls up this entire page rather than that individual post. Not specific enough for what I'm wanting to do with it.