stoneslacker
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you have it right. I usually dry till the stems near the bud crack nicely, but dont snap through. I pack the buds fairly tight, I don't cram or stuff them in but I make sure the jars are nice and full. The buds will smell green the first couple weeks when you open them to burp. As long as they are dried enough the risk of mold is minimal just make sure the first couple weeks you burp them regularly and inspect for mold.Right while curing is somewhat fresh, can I check a few things cos currently its my weak point, largely through not leaving enough smoke to cure each time. The few attempts I have had, the budd seems to smell funny for the first few days, and I get really worried and end up smoking the budd rather then lose it to mould.
I dry my budds for about 6-7 days, in pitch black, around 18 centigrade, with 4" extractor running 24/7. At this point the budds are mostly dry on the outside, but you can still feel a bit of softness when you squeeze, and the budds return to shape when you release.
Curing jars are from the fancy instant coffee I drink. Instead of screw tops, the top has a rubber bung which pops the lid on and off firmly creating an airtight seal. (800ml glass jars)
Budd stuck in the jars with ample free space and every 10-12 hours I burb (my method: open the lid and move the budds a little, leave to air for an hour, and re-seal)
Jars stored in cupboard, pitch black, and cool.
I'm sure I'm doing everything right, maybe I just need to let them dry a couple of days more first. Any thoughts??
I usually burp every 8-14 hours the first couple weeks and leave the jars open for a couple hours at least. When you open the jars you can feel the moisture come to the surface of the buds, leave the jars open till you begin to feel a slight bit of dryness return to the outside of the bud then seal them up for another cycle. Always rotate your bud around in the jar when you burp them too. After a couple weeks you will notice a change in the smell and feel of the buds. Sample them here and check for consistency in the dryness and feel of the buds. Check the taste and feel of the smoke. If the buds feel like they could use some more burping and air do so. If things seem pretty good at this point seal them up for a month or so, trying not to crack the seal and sample too much.