'My' method of simple drying/curing (going forwards) will be this

ok a little story, so I live in the south of the UK and have used many varied methods over the years for drying/curing. The 'standard' method (shown on many sites) worked but is quite labour intensive (leading to inconsistency, for me).
Over the years, I began to find that buds in my old trimming bags tasted amazing when smoked (better then my cured product at times). This lead to me switching from mason jar curing to using my old trimmings bags to dry and cure my buds (by layering fresh buds between thick layers of dried trimmings).
Over time, I added a preliminary drying (in small cardboard 'instant coffee' boxes) first. Then, after approx. 5 days in these small cardboard boxes, I would move these partially dried buds into the old trimming paper bags.
For me, this 2 step method works and gives me a consistent product with no burping, checking moisture levels etc (just bag and leave).
Imo - I even found that differing the dried trim (differing the strain) allows me to imbue subtle flavours from other strains into the strain I am currently drying (I was inspired by the way Jasmine tea was originally made). fyi - Using the same strain (for the dried trim and for the product being dried) seemed to intensify the strains flavours (imo).
Does anyone else use a method like this? To me, it feels more like a 'natural' way to dry buds ..I figure simple methods like this were commonly used in the past?

Anyway, give it a try for yourself. Try the simplest way:
Drop a few fresh cut+trimmed buds right into the middle of one of your old dried trim bags (the old trim must be fully dry), fully cover and close bag. Then, check back in a few weeks (or just leave it be for two/three months for a great cure
Once you experience the simple method you can then add steps (as you like) to tailor to your needs/gain better product.

So that's it. I hope this info helps get someone good product Feel free to add any 'simple' drying ideas you have come to over the years.

Puff_Dragon said:

Does anyone else use a method like this? To me, it feels more like a 'natural' way to dry buds ..I figure simple methods like this were commonly used in the past?

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I've always just put them on a string or put them on coat hangers and let them dry to the point that they "feel" dry, yet still sticky. Then I put them in mason jars and burp as needed. Usually, at least a time or two, I will pull them out and put them on a plate because of the "sweating." I've only grown a little bit before I moved to a place where I had to stop for a little while. Anyways, that's how I've done it, and I turned out with pretty good smoke, although I think that my curing methods could be improved. That's just me though.

Boveda

Used hanging and Boveda packs (great for humidity). I just seemed to get mixed results with the initial drying and curing.(in my local).
However, switching to the method I mentioned seems to have fixed all the issues (and made the process simpler then the ones I used).

Just me I guess Still, happy that such a 'fire and forget' method is working so well for me.
Peace.

i say, if it works for you, and you like it, keep doing it. as long as any unforseen problems arise from this, why not? i'll try it with a little when i have that opportunity.
funny story, i had harvested the last time i grew and i had gotten so tired when harvesting, that i forgot a main branch on the plant. i didn't realize it until almost 3 weeks later. i clipped the buds and smoked them with my wife. i thought they'd be way too dry and taste like shit. boy was i wrong. those buds clipped right off the plant that day, vs the buds i hung then jarred for the same time, tasted WAY better. i ain't even kidding. so i started looking into how harvesting was done traditionally. from what i read, they have varying methods, but it's usually something along the lines of stripping a 1" section of bark off the main stem, leaving just the inner tube so to speak. and they leave it in the field to dry for anywhere from a week to 3. in the sun. i'da thought it was nuts, but that bud has got me thinking about doing it again to just one branch and comparing it again to see if it was just a fluke. but there's zero chance it was a placebo effect, i had the same bud from the same plant just dried and cured with tips from this site to compare it to. it wasn't a gram or 2, it was a nice solid branch, what you would maybe consider the dominant stem, but due to the lst, the plant looked more like it was scrogged. but it always preferred one shoot to be the tallest regardless of how much i fought it to be even with the rest. anyways, try it some time with jst a small branch. let it dry on the plant until it's ready to go into jars. supposedly it keeps taking up the sugars as the plant dies, and it starts fermenting a bit. but the flavor was superb imho.

When suggesting a drying method we should consider the environment of the room.

If I did what the op suggests in winter here the low humidity from heat in winter would dry my shit out too fast.

In summer it’s very humid and my dehumidifiers work overtime so it might work better.

I hang cut branches with bud leaves still attached for 5-10 days depending on outside conditions affecting my inside of house climate.

Then close trim dry and jar the buds. I open jars and let them air out according to the buds structure. Dense buds need more open air time more often. Fluffier strains need less.

I jar the close trim and loose or small buds and cure the same way for edibles.

Best results after 6-8 weeks when buds only need burping every 2 weeks or so. And if done right they are still curing and improving in quality.

Yes it’s labor intensive. Especially with my perpetual grow. I always have a plant drying and another in jars at least.

But all worthwhile things take time and effort.

Just my opinion.

nonamedman420 said:

let it dry on the plant until it's ready to go into jars. supposedly it keeps taking up the sugars as the plant dies, and it starts fermenting a bit. but the flavor was superb imho

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Ive been doing this on my last 2 harvest. I have a problem with low humidity where I used to live. In 3 days my cut buds would turn crispy. So, I started leaving them intact and let the whole plant dry out without cutting them. Took almost 2 weeks before I can jar the buds, really slow drying. Good burns and smooth smoke.

Xs121 said:

Ive been doing this on my last 2 harvest. I have a problem with low humidity where I used to live. In 3 days my cut buds would turn crispy. So, I started leaving them intact and let the whole plant dry out without cutting them. Took almost 2 weeks before I can jar the buds, really slow drying. Good burns and smooth smoke.

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this was my experience as well.
easy peasy, burns good, and nice and smooth. great taste too.

Nice advise on leaving buds to dry on the plant. I've left all the popcorn bud on one of my scrog plants and I'll just leave it to dry 'on the vine' (the plant pot is already dry anyway).

I figured it was a region/season thang. This method works for me in the uk, so far (only tested in warmer months at this point).

Puff_Dragon said:

Nice advise on leaving buds to dry on the plant. I've left all the popcorn bud on one of my scrog plants and I'll just leave it to dry 'on the vine' (the plant pot is already dry anyway).

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You would be surprise as to how much moisture is still in that dry pot.

nonamedman420 said:

i say, if it works for you, and you like it, keep doing it. as long as any unforseen problems arise from this, why not? i'll try it with a little when i have that opportunity.
funny story, i had harvested the last time i grew and i had gotten so tired when harvesting, that i forgot a main branch on the plant. i didn't realize it until almost 3 weeks later. i clipped the buds and smoked them with my wife. i thought they'd be way too dry and taste like shit. boy was i wrong. those buds clipped right off the plant that day, vs the buds i hung then jarred for the same time, tasted WAY better. i ain't even kidding. so i started looking into how harvesting was done traditionally. from what i read, they have varying methods, but it's usually something along the lines of stripping a 1" section of bark off the main stem, leaving just the inner tube so to speak. and they leave it in the field to dry for anywhere from a week to 3. in the sun. i'da thought it was nuts, but that bud has got me thinking about doing it again to just one branch and comparing it again to see if it was just a fluke. but there's zero chance it was a placebo effect, i had the same bud from the same plant just dried and cured with tips from this site to compare it to. it wasn't a gram or 2, it was a nice solid branch, what you would maybe consider the dominant stem, but due to the lst, the plant looked more like it was scrogged. but it always preferred one shoot to be the tallest regardless of how much i fought it to be even with the rest. anyways, try it some time with jst a small branch. let it dry on the plant until it's ready to go into jars. supposedly it keeps taking up the sugars as the plant dies, and it starts fermenting a bit. but the flavor was superb imho.

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Yeah, they call that method “girdling”and some folks swear by it. The curing process is largely one of converting plant sugars into alcohols as the plant very slowly dries, and allowing the phytochemical compounds to degrade, at least from the way I understand it.

I do believe in doing what works for you, OP, I wish you continued success.

So wet buds, buried in dried trim and left for a couple weeks, without any airflow around the fresh buds. Sounds like the perfect recipe for mold, your pretty much making a small compost pile. Ever have that bud tested?

nope, only under my own microscope and 3 decades of smoking (and trips to 'the dam') etc experience ..for whatever that counts for
No mold (the fully dried trim seems to draw moisture away at a rate conducive with no mold), plus the whole caboodle is inside a large brown paper bag (which also helps wick away moisture),

As for air flow, in my local (south of the UK), fans cause drying to occur too quickly in first stage drying (for me and my methods), even indirect exposure. Through trial and error I was surprised to find that I could get great results without any unnatural (fan assisted) airflow. It was more a matter of creating space between drying buds that was key to no fans (and good natural airflow). This trim bag method (if buds are very wet a basic drying first is fine) would probably not be a technique I would use if you were piling ounces of wet bud into a bag of dried trim (mold would then occur). I only place about a half ounce in each full bag of dried trim. Small scale and I love the end result ..still trying to figure out all the in's and out's of it (like slowly adding more bud ..perhaps until I see mold just to get some 'limits' set. At the mo it's still stoner mad scientist stuff ..but it works, for me

The secret, drying bud in a chamber with no air inside, vacuum dryed is best

PURPLEB3RRYKUSH said:

The secret, drying bud in a chamber with no air inside, vacuum dryed is best

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I've been interested in adding vacuum sealed drying (as I have a vacuum sealer) but I heard mixed thoughts on it. I had experimented with using vacuuming to help draw moisture out of the centre of buds. Although I haven't used a vacuum for the whole drying phase. I thought you needed some air in the jar for curing ..but I like to experiment, so maybe I'll put some in a jar and just vacuum it and see

61%RH, 61-65F, wet trim, hang 14 days, chop up to size, Paper bag for 2-4 weeks, shake daily. Jars are for long term storage. Best cure is in a paper bag. For me anyways.

Found if i leave leafs on, it smells like grass, like as if you throw them into a bag of dry leafs,*shrugg, I would guess.

Each their own.