So I’m on day 13 of my drying and I was just wondering if this is normal? This is my first grow in 12 years but my dries back then only took me 5 days or so. The buds look and smell really good, they are just a bit crinkly on the outside and still moist inside. My issue is that none of the stems are snapping, just bending, even the thinner stems won’t snap. I did an in between type of trim when I harvested. I took off fan leaves and trimmed the sugar leaves about 1/2 way. I’ve got them hanging in a 4x4x8 tent with an oscillating fan (not blowing on buds) a scrubber pulling out air with negative pressure. It’s I’m my basement with an ambient temperature of 75’ and 65% humidity. This seems like the perfect match but it’s taking forever. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
An alternate strategy is to weigh the fresh harvested bud after throwing it into a large, shallow storage bin, and consider it dry when 75-80% of the original weight is lost.
It’s stays cooler down in basement. It’s my only option, I can’t dry it anyplace else. I didn’t think that the humidity was that high. I thought the magic formula of 777 was the way to go. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I wouldn’t say the humidity is too high. I think it’s too consistent, actually. The time it is taking is not a bad thing it’s actually preferential for the drying process to take longer, it makes for a smoother smoke. If it is drying unevenly I always add humidity, but I try to keep it warm and dry during the day and cool and humid at night. Is the fan bringing in air from somewhere else?
No, it’s a tower fan. Only air coming in is through a bottom vent on the tent Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
Don’t be afraid to let some fresh dry air(filtered to prevent mold of course) in order to speed things up, if you want to. I think ur gonna end up with some nice smoke.
that 65 % is the issue. it will never get dry. the solution get a dehumidifier put it into tent with your trimmings set the dehumidifier to 35 % wait 2 days its done . you can not dry in 65 % it will always feel wet . and yes your chancing the hell out of getting mold my rule its totally dry in 5 days not risking an entire harvest on mold . we have had it totally dry in 48 hours at 15 % it came out very well .
Imo the longer slower dry combined with a decent cure creates a much better smoke. Those that have tried my slower dry and cure tend to agree that it provides better quality. Sent from my SM-A530W using Grasscity Forum mobile app
I agree. I never got that grassy smell that u can get when u dry too fast. This is going low and slow like when I cook my bbq.
Seemslike you know what you are doing, it sounds like your rh gauge might be suspect 65% is perfect in my opinion. I actually have been starting at 70% rh in an effort to slow down my process. Do you have any of the small gauges that will fit in a jar with your bud? If so maybe try putting together a jar with bud and the gauge and see what you got.
That’s a good idea. I just got a small gauge to put in my jars delivered today. I was just going to use it throughout the cure before I sealed them and stored away. Should I just do a small amount of bud in a smaller jar? Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I’ve got 2 gauges and they are within 1-2% off from each other. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
I would try . Also I've been using one of the hanging drying racks the round mesh ones it let's you get the buds off those large stems
That is strange. I would cut some nugs off no stems jar them up see what you got. You should be there at 13 days. But I bet it's going to be nice. That quick drying couple of days stuff mentioned above is not what I'm looking for and it actually damages potency even
I’ve seen those but I always felt that by leaving the stem on, I can get a slower dry because of the added moisture to the buds from the stems. I’ve already been sneaking some of the buds for a taste. I let it sit out for a day and smoke. It already smokes smooth with the same smell/taste it had while flowering. It is also burning white ash. It should b pretty kick ass in a couple of months. Sent from my iPhone using Grasscity Forum
What’s up boss man, just wanted to chime in on the long dry! Well, second the comments that state it’s preferable to dry longer. My best smoking bud came from plants that hung for a couple weeks before the areas humidity drop caused me to have to trim everything up. But I also took branches from each plant while it was still moist, yet no longer smelling like a plant and just stinky old weed and I’d drop them in boxes for a few hours at first, then a couple days after I was more confident, but never longer yet. All that to say, if you’re ready to wrap it up, try trimming it up and dropping it in a cardboard box. Enough to layer the bottom. Then I break up a nug periodically to determine when I can bag it or jar it. Hope this helps. I was apprehensive, afraid my weed would smell like cardboard. But my box smells like weed. Weed was great lol.
Yeah I don't get into the rack till 5 -7 days I go whole plant 2-3 days then into branches and then the rack. Still working on the whole process , my struggle has been the opposite of yours. I'm always trying to get it to slow down . A dehumidifier was my key piece I put one of the small gauges in the rack with the bud and walk it down to 65% rh and then to the jars
