re: GLH 600W LED Grow
i wanted to share some great info i found on curing with those digi RH meters i posted about the other day. this breaks down the curing process very easy using on. i did not write this! hope this will be helpful to some?
You've had a good grow, and it's time for harvest. You've flushed like you're supposed too (depending on your system anywhere from 4-12 days maybe longer). Chop those ladies down. Trim the way you prefer. I like to leave a little of the sweet leaf on as I don't want to handle the buds too much or too long. I hang/line dry until the stem is dry but still flexs/bends a bit. Usually just a couple of days.
Drop those lovely buds into a jar. My preference is 1/2 gallon Ball mason canning jars, easily found at Ace Hardware (can be ordered online with free shipping to your local Ace - they run out a lot but be patient and try again in a week or two). Fill each jar up evenly but don't over-stuff. If you hold the jar horizontal, there should be a gap roughly an inch or so - enough room to slide the hygrometer in.
What's a hygrometer? It's measure humidity. There are analog & digital ones. I prefer digital. The two I like are: the Chaney Indoor Thermometer w/Humidity and the Caliber 3 Hygrometer. Both fairly inexpensive (should be less than $20 each), both are pretty accurate.
Here's the Chaney one (sometimes it has a different brand name but it will look just like this)
So now you just slide the hygrometer in (make sure it's facing out so you can view it, dumbass LOL). Tighten that lid down and put it where you normally cure your stuff.
NOTE: Not every jar needs a hygrometer in it. I use just one per harvest per strain.
After about a couple of hours (takes a bit to get an accurate reading, give it at least 2-4 hrs). Take a look at the Relative Humidity reading.
If more than +70% - buds need to dry longer out of the jar. For me, about every 5% over 70, equals about 10-12 hours outside of jar - but that's different depending on time of year, outside weather, etc... Typically about 12-36 hours more drying time is needed.
65-70% - getting really close to that sweet spot for curing. Keep it in the jars but burp them for a couple of hours, roughly 2-4 hours. Burp 'em, then close the lid, wait 4-6 hours, check RH%, burp again if needed, repeat as needed until you reach the next level. The closer you get to the next level the longer it takes to get an accurate reading, maybe even 12-24 hours. Basically, after every burp I add about 4-6 hours to the wait time between burps until I check again. Getting it down to the next level might take a week or more, and that's ok. The slower the better. Luckily here in Colorado we have low humidity. If in a higher humidity area, say along the coasts, I would want to speed it up just a bit to get to the next level as mold may be a factor
60-65% - this is the Curing stage range. Once we hit this range, keep things sealed unless we want to prepare it for long-term storage, then we'll need to SLOWLY lower down to the next stage. But if you just want to cure it, leave here in this range for a week and longer to cure. Buds should be slightly sticky. Stems should snap. The RH may fluctuate a bit as moisture releases from the bud but it will dissipate/be reabsorbed. If this is for retail, I wait about 10-14 days into cure then bring samples to my dispensary buyers. Most dispensaries tend to like it closer to the 65% as it'll cure while it's on the shelf, plus it'll be stickier, look more appealing & that's what most people are looking for. Closer to 60% is better for smoking/vaping. If it's for myself or my patients, I let it cure for at least 2 weeks to a month. I do take a bit out to try about once a week. Some of my patients like it a little moister than others as it takes a little longer to smoke. Others don't really care too much one way or the other but no one likes it if too moist or too dry/brittle. Some of my patients use those Boveda 65% packets to help keep things where they like it. I tell them to still burp about once a week or so for about an hour when using those packets. I recommend dispensaries use those packets at night in their jars to keep things looking nice & sticky-icky for the next day.
For long term storage - once in this range (60-65), check weekly. If on the higher end, closer to 65, I still burp about every week just for an hour or so. As it slowly drops to 60%, I wait longer & longer between these short burps - we're talking days/weeks here folks not hours between these burps. Once it falls below 60, you have reached the next level. Takes me about 4-6 sometimes 8 weeks.
55-60% - Long term storage stage. I still leave the hygrometer in for about a couple of days/week, just to make sure it's leveled off. Once it has leveled off, then I take the hygrometer out & vacuum seal the jar. I don't usually storage too much for long term usually just 1 jar per harvest, unless it's just some incredible stuff and I want to be able to share it with long distance friends & family when they visit throughout the year.
If for some reason it reads under 55% - either you left it hanging to dry for too long with a fan blowing on it directly or too close to a heat source/vent or you might need to have a humidifier on a timer in the area you dry in (make sure it's not blowing the moisture directly on plants) OR maybe you just need to wait a little longer for your next reading. Wait 12-24 hours, and check again if still under 55 well you just learn a valuable lesson on how not to dry so quickly next time. It'll be shitty to smoke, guess you could grind it or tumble the heck out of it or maybe make tincture/butter/oil but smoke/vape is going to suck. But hey it takes experience, just learn from it....dumbass! LOL!
I think that's about it. This was by no means my very own method that I discovered. It took some trial & error between myself & others. About a month ago, a buddy of mine saw a thread on another forum and they were using the same method almost to a "T". So I'm guessing it's a pretty good method. Like I said, it's pretty stoner-friendly. Kinda hard to screw up as long as you didn't over-dry to bring with. Have patience young jedi.....
Enjoy that lovely properly cured dank!
