Keeping Fans on a Timer for a Better Drying Process?

Do any of you keep your fans and/or dehumidifier on a timer that allows the buds to sit without any air circulation for a period of time while drying? I was thinking this process may allow some of the moisture to be redistributed in the buds while the fans are off for a period of 2-4 hours or so, then the fans would come back on for the remaining 22-20 hours. My logic is that this would be similar to the cure where the buds are jarred to allow redistribution of moisture and then burping of the jars.

Here is a picture of my Ak-48 plant that I harvested and hung to dry last night. The RH of the cabinet overnight with just the fan running hung around 65% at 70F with the door cracked. Today I put in a small dehumidifier I got off eBay in the cabinet and with the fan it is sitting at 40-45% RH and 75F.






I know this is a better range to be drying in but I was thinking about using this timer method so the bud has a chance to dry slower and more evenly with a period of no fans. What do you guys think or do personally?

i never run a fan drying. and iv always heard that as a general consensus for drying

i would have a fan just pointing in the general direction of my drying box, not directly pointing at it...

I have often come across the phrase that suggests to "have a fan circulating the air but not pointed directly on the buds" while drying, so I figured I would keep the fan in the bottom of the cabinet. The fan is at a very low speed so it should not be too much air movement hopefully, but the dehumidifier is raising the temp. a bit in the cabinet which I'm not sure is a good thing to achieve a slow dry. When I first started drying with only the fan running I had a RH of 65% and temps from 65-70F which I felt was too high of a RH and risked the chance for mold.

This information is from a post by Brick Top:

Drying marijuana After Harvest


The area where the drying is done should be dark. Light and high temperatures (higher than about 80 degrees) will cause THC to break down into less desirable chemicals, this will lower the potency of the finished product.

A good way to dry the crop is to hang the buds upside-down by the stem, from some string or wire. The drying marijuana must have some circulation blowing over it at all times. A gentle breeze that circulates over all the plants is necessary.

A fan or two will circulate air within the drying room. Fans will aid in drying the plants evenly, and reducing the chances of mold. If mold starts and is allowed to grow, it might ruin all of your crop. Mold looks like white fuzz and has an odor that is unpleasant.

You will have to keep the temperature and humidity within a certain range for optimal results. Conditions should remain constantly somewhere within the following ranges, temperature should be between 65-75 degrees F, relative humidity should be between 45%-55%.

At temperatures lower than 65 degrees, drying time will be lengthened. At temperatures higher than 75 degrees, the heat will cause the outer portion of the bud to dry quicker than the inner part, and the taste will suffer.

At humidity levels lower than 45%, the marijuana will dry too fast and the taste will suffer. At humidity levels higher than 55%, the marijuana will take a long time to dry, and it will be prone to mold.

Keep a hygrometer and a thermometer in the drying area, close to the plants. A hygrometer will allow you to keep an eye on the relative humidity level in the room and a thermometer will display the temperature. Some hygrometers

have built in thermometers so you can measure the temperature and humidity together.

Depending on the time of year and your location, a heater or an air conditioner may be necessary to adjust the temperature. To control humidity, a dehumidifier can lower humidity and a humidifier can be used to raise humidity. There are warm mist humidifiers and cool mist humidifiers.


Going by this information my temps and RH seem to be where they should be, but as you guys suggested it might be too much air circulation and maybe a little too warm. Using a timer would give them some time without the fan though.

Do you think I would be ok just running the fan from outside the cabinet even if the RH sits at 65% and a cool 70F because I do not want mold but I also don't want to dry too fast and have harsh bud that smells like hay.

I have three other plants ( Seedsman White Widow and Mama Mia, and Sensi Seeds Super Skunk) that I will be harvesting in about a week or so, and I want to make sure that I get my setup perfect because they are looking way more dank than the Nirvana Ak48 that I am drying now.

Thanks for your help.