a few questions

first is it better to cut my plant with lights on or off,, second i was thinking about just drying my plant with no trimming till i go to jar them leaving the fan leaves and all.... third i cant really make drying cab light tight cause i have to put it in my flowering room its not much light just through the cracks any advice appreciated .... thanks in advance

What is the temp and humidity in your drying section of the room?If you mean cutting the plants down with lights on or off, it really isn't going to make a difference. I would suggest cutting the big fan leaves off before hanging to dry so air can better get to your bud and evenly dry but, if you have light leaking in then leaving the fan leaves on may help shade and protect the bud from light just have good air flow in the drying room. Don't have fans blowing directly on the plants though they will dry to fast and smell and/or taste like hay. Just, have fans circulating the air around the plants. Hope this helps!

Hey moppy i hope that time to chop is drawing close for you! I have wondered this myself and looked into the question of chopping at lights on or off. From what i have researched, some say to put the plant in total darkness from anywhere from 24-72 hours prior to chop. I have noticed on some breeders harvest instructions depending on strain, they actually suggest a dark period prior to harvest. The thought here is two fold... While in dark the plants nutrient uptake process is not occurring thus the nutrients are not circulating through the plant and buds thus it makes for more smoother smoke once dried and cured. Also this dark period is said to trigger the plant into creating more trichomes as a defense stress mechansism..... I am by no means a pro regarding this but just what i have dug up.
Regarding keeping fan leaves on or off i have found this to be entirely dependent on your humidity and temperature levels in your drying environment. For me i have found that in my situation if i leave EVERYTHING on the plant and hang in my closet in darkness for 2-3 days then at that point start pulling fan leaves it helps the plant to dry a little slower ultimately giving me a smoother smoke, better smell and flavor. But that is because my plants dry too fast otherwise and i am left with a grassier smelling product with a harsher hit. I find the slower you can dry the better your end result. Just keep an eye out for mold. Hope you find this helpful.

thanxs for advice fellas.. gratefuljoe i kinda dont understand the 24-72 dark before harvest for extra trichs cause if the plants creating more because of it wouldn't they be immature trichs(clear) which from what ive read dont have fully realize thc in them???? any experts like to chime in on that? and cutting before the lights come on before the plant starts pushing nutes back into the leaves sounds understandable so when drying its just evaporating chlorophil (bad spelling sorry found sum good sour d lol)... i had a temp/humitidy reader but lost in the move and literally to poor to buy another so im kinda hoping for some luck on that.. i have 2 im gonna be cutting down soon yay

I have done the chopping in light and dark I saw no real differance. as for nute uptake you should be flushing prior to D day. I found drying in no light, warm temps, about 30-35% hum till outer bud just a little crunchy then jars, no light.

Hey there moppy. You know I've always been on the fence about the darkness with only ever reading opinions and hearsay. From my thought process the dark period is beneficial to get those excess nutes down to the roots and inactive. That's the big upside I see to dark period as well as letting the trichs ripen and flowers mature for a little more plump. I honestly do not see the plant pumping out many more trichs in that time window. I still do dark myself for about 2-3 days. Just a side note I have witnessed trichs still maturing after harvest. Budrizer hit it spot on with doing a flush as well.