A perfect cure every time

[frikn squirrel]

This post will share my experiences using Simon's method.

I hang dry in an area with 60-70 degree temperatures, 35%-50% humidity, and moderate passive air movement. I have experimented with various ways and found that what seems to work best for me is to wait until the buds are crispy on the outside, then chop up the branches and put them in a paper bag until the buds are crispy again. It should be noted that I hang the whole plant when drying. At this point, I trim them and put them in Jars and they will normally stabilize at ~70%. If the humidity is above 70%, I take them out and put them in paper bags for a few hours. If it's below 70% I take the buds out and put them right back in and leave the lid off for a while. So far it's never stayed at preciously 70%

Overall this method has worked extremely well for me by giving me confidence in my curing process. This is a very noob friendly method and it really is great because it helps people learn on their own by comparing the feel of the bud to the RH and adjusting based on their specific needs. I think that's why so many people have so much trouble curing - people don't consider that environmental conditions vary by region and those conditions play a huge part in the curing procedure.


I did an experiment with the long term RH because I was unhappy with the smell I was getting when I left the jars at sub-65%. Don't get me wrong it was still very good, just not the overwhelming stink I know my strain is capable of. I left one jar at 64% for a month, and another at 67%. After 1 month I opened the jars and the 67% just reeked while the 64% did not have such a potent odor. Simon - do you recommend sub-65% humidity for curing primarily to avoid mold problems, or have you found the 60-65% range to be optimal for a perfect cure?

 

[Darth Fader]

I did an experiment with the long term RH because I was unhappy with the smell I was getting when I left the jars at sub-65%. Don't get me wrong it was still very good, just not the overwhelming stink I know my strain is capable of. I left one jar at 64% for a month, and another at 67%. After 1 month I opened the jars and the 67% just reeked while the 64% did not have such a potent odor. Simon - do you recommend sub-65% humidity for curing primarily to avoid mold problems, or have you found the 60-65% range to be optimal for a perfect cure?

Good question. We're all after a strong fragrance - no hay!

My question to Simon: At what point do you clip all excess stems & strip down the jars to bare nugs?

 

[Dave Coulier]

This post will share my experiences using Simon's method.

I hang dry in an area with 60-70 degree temperatures, 35%-50% humidity, and moderate passive air movement. I have experimented with various ways and found that what seems to work best for me is to wait until the buds are crispy on the outside, then chop up the branches and put them in a paper bag until the buds are crispy again. It should be noted that I hang the whole plant when drying. At this point, I trim them and put them in Jars and they will normally stabilize at ~70%. If the humidity is above 70%, I take them out and put them in paper bags for a few hours. If it's below 70% I take the buds out and put them right back in and leave the lid off for a while. So far it's never stayed at preciously 70%

Overall this method has worked extremely well for me by giving me confidence in my curing process. This is a very noob friendly method and it really is great because it helps people learn on their own by comparing the feel of the bud to the RH and adjusting based on their specific needs. I think that's why so many people have so much trouble curing - people don't consider that environmental conditions vary by region and those conditions play a huge part in the curing procedure.


I did an experiment with the long term RH because I was unhappy with the smell I was getting when I left the jars at sub-65%. Don't get me wrong it was still very good, just not the overwhelming stink I know my strain is capable of. I left one jar at 64% for a month, and another at 67%. After 1 month I opened the jars and the 67% just reeked while the 64% did not have such a potent odor. Simon - do you recommend sub-65% humidity for curing primarily to avoid mold problems, or have you found the 60-65% range to be optimal for a perfect cure?

I can't speak for Simon, but I found 65% to be great for curing. I wouldn't let it go much above that. At 70% you are begging for mold, which I experienced.

About your 64 vs 67, were they from clones or seed? It can vary alot from seeds. I had 4 diff White Widow in jars, and 3 stayed around 65, and had a decent smell. I didn't like it much, but every body else did. The other jar of Widow was also at 65 +/- 1 point, and it smelled amazing. Super sweet fruity smell that I love. Obviously, this is the jar I kept for myself.

 

[Emmie]

guys i noticed something and would like you to correct me if i'm wrong, i tried 2 methods; the first method is to harvest and hang the plant upside down and wait for the stems to snap (drying period was long - around 5 days), once i started cutting the leaves the smell was really good and still is. curing started at 65%

The second method was to dry the plant upside down for a shorter period, take the plant while the stem is a lil more flexible and cured it as Simon mentioned in his thread, the smell of the buds wasn't as good as the first method! i am kinda confused at the moment!



P.S. i was dealing with clones from different breeders.

 

[frikn squirrel]

I can't speak for Simon, but I found 65% to be great for curing. I wouldn't let it go much above that. At 70% you are begging for mold, which I experienced.

About your 64 vs 67, were they from clones or seed? It can vary alot from seeds. I had 4 diff White Widow in jars, and 3 stayed around 65, and had a decent smell. I didn't like it much, but every body else did. The other jar of Widow was also at 65 +/- 1 point, and it smelled amazing. Super sweet fruity smell that I love. Obviously, this is the jar I kept for myself.

All of the strains I grow are from clone and I have been growing them at least 3 cycles now so I am pretty familiar with the smell they are capable of. I agree that 70% is too much. The bud FEELS too wet. But sometimes my bud will feel dry 'enough' and the RH of the jar is still 66-67%...

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

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[Kelly.]

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[Ty_Kaycha]

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[hkush]

This setup is nice. Just received my hygrometers in the mail today. Very easy to maintain an exact humidity inside the jar. My weed is still in a state where it is drying and just the slightest offset of the lid keeps it at a nice 66% for me. Close the lid and it goes up to 70, take the lid off and it drops to 50%, offset it slightly, and the perfect humidity is maintained. .

 

[frikn squirrel]

Hkush great idea keeping the lid slightly offset!

 

[chappie]

If you measure a RH below 55% don't panic. Read below:

Obviously, the product need time to sweat in the jar. As such, accurate readings won't be seen for ~24 hours, assuming the flowers are in the optimal cure zone. If you're curing the product for long-term storage, give the flowers 4-5 days for an accurate reading. If the product is sill very wet, a +70% RH reading will show within hours. If you see the RH rising ~1% per hour, keep a close eye on the product, as it's likely too moist.

Ok, I am not panicing, but what am I missing about what to do if it gets below 55%? You are just suggesting to wait?

Is there anything possible to do if it has stabilized at less than 55?

thanks!

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

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[reckon]

you CAN rehydrate over dried cannabis, but even though it's re-moistened, and smokes very smooth, it will NOT continue to "cure" once the RH gets below 55%.

a fresh cannabis leaf placed into the jar/box will usually do the trick in less than 24 hours, so will a piece of a flour tortilla.

I'm old skool, from when my dad smoked a tobacco pipe, and use these to re-hydrate, or to maintain RH level:

bout $3 at any tobacco/pipe/cigar store

 

[delerious]

you CAN rehydrate over dried cannabis, but even though it's re-moistened, and smokes very smooth, it will NOT continue to "cure" once the RH gets below 55%.

a fresh cannabis leaf placed into the jar/box will usually do the trick in less than 24 hours, so will a piece of a flour tortilla.

I'm old skool, from when my dad smoked a tobacco pipe, and use these to re-hydrate, or to maintain RH level:
bout $3 at any tobacco/pipe/cigar store

All they have around here are the blimpies https://www.rollingpapers.com/cgi/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=6106

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

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[NicholasSmokes]

What is it that happens below 55% RH that prevents additional curing once the humidity is raised back up?

 

[Hundred Gram Oz]

Cool Thread....I must try this out...thanks, OP

 

[GrnMtnGrwr]

I'm gathering supplies for my curing... I'm looking at half gallon mason jars with a vacuum sealer... how much can I fit in a half gallon jar? Any ideas? I saw rrog uses them, but he didn't say how much he had in there.

 

[bcell]

I grabbed one of Caliber IIIs today. Good for the acoustic guitar case as well.

 

[microgram]

Feel free to bash me on my head, shank me, and leave me in a ditch, but I've re-moistened chronic a ton before (tobacco tins work well), it aint perfect but it works hella good. You need a cotton pad taped on top of the jar/bucket, and drop two drops of water onto the pad, and leave it, rotate the bud occasionally.

It's a lot better than smoking dry bud.