Harvest tips

[Springs smoker]

So it's finally come the time to prep for harvest. (Finally) I have heard and read numerous different ways to go about this. I was hoping to get some knowledge from the CO boys on how they go about this process. I just gave water and will water once more in three days. Do I water then switch lights out for certain amount of time? Or just cut down

my plan was to turn light out then cut down, trim. Hang back in the tent till branches snap then place in mason jars. One of my buddies tried explaining this brown bag method but it didnt match what I have been learning.


any advice would be great? This is my first harvest.

 

[Jus Naturale]

First off, GO BRONCOS.

With that out of the way, I just had my second harvest about a week ago, so I'm no pro. Anyway, my research revealed that the best time to cut is just when the lights would come on. That way, the plant hasn't been building up chlorophyll and such during the day, in the lights. Also, make sure the soil (if using soil) is dried out a bit/don't water shortly before cutting. That'll just encourage the plant to suck up more water, which you'll just have to dry out while hanging.

As for paper bags, I've heard they're great for maintaining an approximately appropriate humidity for drying, and I put a couple nugs in a paper bag during my last harvest because they didn't have enough stem to hang them on. Just sat them inside and folded the top over a bit. They were fine.

Good luck and happy harvesting!

 

[TruenoAE86coupe]

I feed straight water for 2-3 weeks to make sure of a solid flush.
Then nothing special, i just take the plant out of the room, (this is just for ease) take it up in front of the TV, and start harvesting one branch at a time, that way if i don't finish in time, i just toss her back in the room for the night and finish the next day.
I just hang the buds in my basement (i use a metal coat hanger) until the terminal cola (or whatever the biggest bud is) stem is nice and stiff in the bud, then i jar up. I used to jar earlier than this and found that i had to redry the buds on a paper plate a lot, so i dried further and the cure is much much better.
I do not expose the plant to dark prior to harvest, i have read the resins are at their highest levels right at lights on, so i try to harvest early in their day, but lately that has not worked so well, typically 2-3 hours into lights on and then i steal her out of the room. I haven't noticed much resin difference this way, so who really knows?
Scissor choice is important here, trimming is a slow, tedious proccess, made much easier by scissors that work for you. Most everyone uses spring loaded scissors, i can't stand them, if i get trimming fast (shaping the buds) the resins heat up and the blades stick together. I have found that i prefer kitchen shears, but everyone likes their own thing, so use this time as experimenting, see what you do and don't like about your scissors, use that info for future purchases.
Gloves are great, keep your fingers from getting brutally sticky. I picked up a little bottle of Sap off Soap from Way to Grow and that stuff is great, have saved several pairs of scissors with it, not to mention the huge difference it makes on your hands if you don't wear gloves.

 

[TruenoAE86coupe]

First off, GO BRONCOS.

With that out of the way, I just had my second harvest about a week ago, so I'm no pro. Anyway, my research revealed that the best time to cut is just when the lights would come on. That way, the plant hasn't been building up chlorophyll and such during the day, in the lights. Also, make sure the soil (if using soil) is dried out a bit/don't water shortly before cutting. That'll just encourage the plant to suck up more water, which you'll just have to dry out while hanging.

As for paper bags, I've heard they're great for maintaining an approximately appropriate humidity for drying, and I put a couple nugs in a paper bag during my last harvest because they didn't have enough stem to hang them on. Just sat them inside and folded the top over a bit. They were fine.

Good luck and happy harvesting!

All good info. My only disagreement is the reason not to water the plant before harvest. In Colorado the humidity is so low that any addition moisture left in the plant is a good thing to help slow the drying process. I do however agree to dry the soil out some, mainly cause then the pot doesn't get my floor all wet while i harvest, but if i watered the day before, i just deal with it, put it on a tarp, in an old box etc.

 

[Springs smoker]

So I have the spring loaded scissors and the kitchen version so hopefully I will be good. Get some gloves from the old lady, she uses them all day. Since I watered today I imagine I will cut them down in about two days. If I hang them in my closet, do I need to keep them in dark or do lights stay on? Do I keep humidity down or up? Thanks for the help

 

[TruenoAE86coupe]

Lights off is preferable, they claim the light will degrade the thc, but it will make them look bad if in too bright a light while drying.
I dry in ambient temp and humidity, natural works best for me. I do use a swamp cooler for my house this time of year which brings the humidity up and makes drying take 2x as long, sometimes i fight to pull the moisture down to where i want it.
Typically, with the exception of some big buds, i will jar within 3-4 days of cutting, so keep a close eye on them.

 

[Canna Connoiseur]

My very recent harvest I hung dry for 4 days. Fans circulating air. No air is blowing directly on the buds. All of the little buds I just put into a paper bag. 1 bud layer then throw clean shredded paper bag strips on top of bud. Then place another layer of bud then strips and so on. Just check it daily. Make sure you get air into the lower spots by either shaking the bag while it is open or taking all of it out and re-layering. You want to throw them in jars when they are around 65%-70%.