I have read the HOW TO's and I can easily follow directions but I can only be a sheep for so long. I start to wonder why I am doing something a certain way. I think I understand the concept of Decarboxylation, the transformation of terpenes and the breakdown of chlorophyll, Starches, and sugars.....etc. I however could not find the answers I was looking for on google. Some things about curing still confuse me, mainly because I do question everything. First, I am not questioning how the flower feels or what the stem does, I am not worrying about mold with a climate at 30%RH and I can get it in the jar pretty close to a stable 62% then exchange oxygen till I feel comfortable. What I think I understand, and I could be wrong..... Once we Jar it up, The RH could be stable at 62% however there are still microorganisms that aid in curing and will require moisture and oxygen to remain alive. They continue to eat up remaining chlorophyll and other compounds and have a byproduct of gasses that need to be released. Thus we continue the air exchange for a month to two months depending on who you ask. We can store the jars for long term storage if we avoid The 3 biggest killers of trichomes when stored, heat and light and oxygen. I guess there are lighters and vape pens too. Purists and Connoisseurs agree that cannabis aged for a year or longer is much better tasting and has a more appealing high. The loss of THC from age may be present but the quality of smoke outweighs the loss. Someday I will get to make my own opinion. --Questions-- So just like watching and waiting for signs to harvest such as trichomes turn, Is some other sign to know for sure when oxygen is no longer required and it will be fine in a NO oxygen environment without too much guess work? Why is an environment with an RH of 45-55% for drying recommended when obviously we store the flower with an RH of 62% with no airflow and no risk of mold or mildew in the jar. I have the ability to control the RH in a cabinet to remain at 62%. I can keep temps under control. I can keep a draft with no air blowing directly on the flowers. I tested some branches and the flowers did not grow any fuzzies or develop any bad smell. They went in to the jar and held pretty close to 62% after 24 then 48 hours sooooo.... What would be wrong with hanging the branches in this Cabinet for a month or two or however long oxygen is needed then vacuum sealing the jars, maybe toss in a boveda paks to be for sure for sure? I would think the slower I can get it to 62% by the time it goes in the jar without mold or mildew the better. It seems an environment in the 45-55% RH range is much lower than really required.
There are as many curing methods as there are growers and everyone thinks their's is the best way. I have tried many methods and the differences are negligible. I think most of it is in the grower's heads. "i did this when curing and the weed was great, therefore it's a good thing to do" is where most of these ideas come from. Basically most curing methods revolve around the same principle and that's dry it slowly. You can use whatever method you want, and if it's dried slowly it will probably work. People slow the process down by jarring or bagging but it's all essentially the same
I have a question, is the bud supposed to be above or below 62% when it first goes in the jars? I had some stuff that went in at 30% and slowly crept up to 60%.. Then I had some that went in at 80% and I left the lids off a lot and it slowly went down to 65% The stuff that went in drier smells great already but the more moist stuff still smells plant-like.. it's been about a month Sent from my SCH-I545 using Grasscity Forum mobile app
You sure the 30% wasn't a false reading? That's just about crispy enough for it to turn to powder when you pick it up. The goal of curing from my understanding is to enhance the flavour. As long as you're doing that - then, great!
Could of been but I don't think so, it was drying during the same time as the San Diego fires and humidity was under 10% so the buds dried out fast, they got very crispy but bounced back in the jars
Man here in the UK we are lucky if the humidity drops down to 60% lol, I can't imagine what 10% feels like
Yeah San Diego is a desert but that week was miserable lol usually we're like 50-60% Sent from my SCH-I545 using Grasscity Forum mobile app