Serapis
Well-Known Member
edit: deleted my own post
EDIT2: OK, I'm trying again.
Just in case anyone is confused about the 10-15% moisture figure. Forget about it.
Use a hygrometer in your jars.
Search for a thread called "perfect cure every time" by "Simon".
When RH drops below 55% curing is DONE and will not continue.
From memory (DO check out the thread, I could remember wrong):
RH:
70%+ too wet, take out and dry a little - depending.
65% - 70% almost in perfect cure-zone, slowly get it down to 65% by burping.
60% - 65% stems snap, buds are sticky, and are now curing. Still, continue til 60%
55% - 60% no chance for mold, can be stored without burping. Still curing.
below 55% too dry, curing has stopped and can not continue. If you add moisture, you get wet buds - not a restart of curing.
Actually, you are mold risk free around 63%. That doesn't mean mold won't come, it means that if you stay on course and keep burping it down, once you hit 63%, you can begin to relax on the mold inspections. Just make sure to continue sniffing product when burping for any signs of mold smell.
Wait, so loose in jars or all together? I'd think you'd want them spaced out to dry evenly.
I pack my jars full the first time, because I'm going to sweat them, drawing moisture from bigger buds into smaller ones that are much drier. The goal is to even out the moisture. Once I get my bud slightly below 70% RH, I then thin out my jars, leaving some room to tumble the jars to separate buds. I also don't bother removing buds from stems until I thin the jars. The stems help slow down loss and even the moisture content.
what size jars are the best to use? i figure the larger the jar the more would be in the jar thus you may have to change how long you keep the jars open.
I use half gallon mason jars, and each one can hold about 4-5 ounces. For smaller grows, I would use the quart jars, which easily hold about 1.5 oz.
Thats awesome thanks for the info! I grew some Ice and had to harvest them about two weeks early. The trichomes are clear but there is a good amount of orange hairs on them. Are these crystal covered buds going to get me high?
The trichomes are resin glands, so you do have some on your product. The question is going to be what type of buzz. You may very well like early bud; some people love it, because they can get high or medicate in middle of the day and still function.
i,ve dried my bud,s too much no moisture in jars how do i repair this or am i stuck with it ?
While you cannot restart the curing process, you can add life back into those dry buds. Place a freshly cut fan leaf into the jar and leave it for two days. A big fat fan leaf. the dry buds will suck the moisture right out of it. This method does return SOME of the flavor and taste, b ut it won't restore it to it's original potential.
Plastic containers give off a gas, and are NOT airtight! Find a big jar with a big mouth and lid! Simple as that no ifs, but's, or and's about it! HAS TO BE A GLASS JAR WITH A LID!! Read my post its some knowledge PROMISE! If you need more jars buy some 99¢ peanut jars and start grubbing! if your allergenic then throw them away! jams, jellies, pickles, etc. you get the idea right? NO PLASTIC!!!
There are many safe plastics out there, including plastics in food service and storage. Many people with big harvests cure in trash bags or 5 gallon buckets. While your alert is certainly good willed and good intentioned, it is false, plastic containers maybe used, but unlike glass jars, they are not air tight. Trichomes may also stick to the surface of plastic. While plastic should be avoided by smaller growers due to availability of superior mason jars, large growers don't have a choice, they can and should use BPA free plastics.