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Drying and curing is the hardest part of growing. It is where a great harvest can go wrong. Here is exactly how I do it.
I dry in the Cannatrol Cool Cure. I load the shelves, close the door, and walk away. It holds the temperature and the dew point steady the whole dry. No babysitting. No guessing.
Then it all goes into Grove Bags for the cure. The bags keep the humidity right on their own, so the flavor builds while you do nothing. My code is Marina.
Before the gear, there were books. This is the classic way, straight from the grow books on my shelf. I do it my way now, but every grower should know the classic.
Watch the trichomes with a loupe. Cut when most are milky and cloudy with a little amber mixed in. The pistils darken and curl back in, and the buds feel firm and heavy. Stop feeding 10 to 14 days before you cut, so the plant uses up what is stored.
From the bookshelf: The Cannabis Encyclopedia by Jorge Cervantes, The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green
Some growers trim right after harvest. Others take the big fan leaves off wet and finish the detail trim after the dry, which keeps the dry slow and protects the flavor. Either way, use small sharp scissors and be gentle. Rough handling bruises the buds.
From the bookshelf: Marijuana Grow Basics by Jorge Cervantes
Cool, dark, and moving air. Aim for 65 to 75 degrees and 45 to 55 percent humidity. Some growers go cooler, down near 60 degrees, to hold more terpenes. Keep a small fan moving air in the room, but never point it straight at the buds. No light. Light breaks down THC.
From the bookshelf: Marijuana Grow Basics by Jorge Cervantes, Marijuana Grower's Handbook by Ed Rosenthal, The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green
Give it 5 to 7 days at least, sometimes two to three weeks. It is done when the small stems snap instead of bending. If it dries too fast, the buds keep a green taste and smoke harsh.
From the bookshelf: Marijuana Grow Basics by Jorge Cervantes, The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green
Pack the buds gently into glass jars, about three quarters full. The first week, open the jars 2 to 3 times a day for a few minutes to let the damp air out. After that, open once or twice a week. Most buds are cured in 2 to 3 weeks. Four to 8 weeks is the sweet spot.
The books all cure in glass jars. Grove Bags came later. That is what I use now.
From the bookshelf: Marijuana Grow Basics by Jorge Cervantes, The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green
Space the branches so buds never touch. Check the dense colas first, they trap moisture. Never jar buds that still feel wet. If you see mold, that bud is done. Do not smoke it.
From the bookshelf: Marijuana Grow Basics by Jorge Cervantes, Marijuana Grower's Handbook by Ed Rosenthal, Growing Elite Marijuana by Ryan Riley
Terpenes are delicate. Heat and light push them right out of the bud. Keep everything cool and dark, handle buds gently, and never try to speed dry in an oven or microwave.
From the bookshelf: Marijuana Grower's Handbook by Ed Rosenthal, The Cannabis Grow Bible by Greg Green, The Cannabis Encyclopedia by Jorge Cervantes
The books behind this guide:
This is the game version of my process. Load the Cool Cure, run the 8 days, and bag it up.
Step one
Pick a bud below, tap to load it. The Cool Cure likes 2.2 lbs wet or less.
CannatrolCOOL CURE
Pick a bud, tap to load. Tap a loaded bud to take it back.
0.0 / 2.2 lbs wet
8 days
Dried and cured. No jars. No burping.
The old way: weeks of hanging, then jars you open and close every single day, hoping you got it right.
My code: Marina
My affiliate link. It supports the circle at no extra cost to you.
What the Cool Cure actually does for your harvest.
4 days drying, 4 days curing on the factory settings. Tested and proven, ready out of the box.
Set the temp and the dew point, then walk away. No jars to open every day.
Precise Vaportrol control dries slow and even, so flavor and smell make it to the jar.
Keep the cure going up to 30 days or more. Then store right in the unit for months.
70 watts. That is about $6 a month to run, all day every day.
2.2 lbs wet per load. Small enough for a corner, serious enough for your best harvest.
“Drying and curing is the hardest part of growing. I would rather spend my energy on the grow and let the Cannatrol handle the finish.”
— MARINAMy affiliate link. It supports the circle at no extra cost to you.
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