DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

[johnnyappleseed]

They're looking great Johnny, with that nice low and slow green color to them!

Those were the original instructions anyway. XL bags would handle more.

The downside of drying faster in the fridge is probably that the chlorophyll might not be outgassing in the shorter amount of time, which will lead you to having to burp to get rid of the green smell. And burping isn't part of the original point of low and slow intent, which is to maximize terpene retention. That's why the rice ball solution was the best way to lower the RH quickly once the flowers were out of the fridge: suck the moisture out down to 62% and seal for curing. Burping is one of the places terpenes are lost.

All that said, some folks use low and slow just to prevent their harvests from over-drying if they live in a very dry environment, rather than terpene retention. Burping wouldn't be an issue there.

Thanks! My environment for drying (unfinished basement) is high heat and decent humidity. I have a dehumidifier to bring the rh to 65ish but the heat climbs to 70/73 deg f. So, I figured even a quick dry in the fridge down in the basement is better than air drying....

Ah, I didn't realize they lotus cure was intended to replace curing. I thought burping was still necessary. I must have missed that. I guess that's why it's called lotus cure and not lotus dry.

Once the buds are at a constant 62th, isn't it still necessary to burp every day for a week or two during curing?

 

[InTheShed]

Once the buds are at a constant 62th, isn't it still necessary to burp every day for a week or two during curing?

If they were in the fridge for a shorter-than-prescribed time they could probably use some burping to clear more of the chlorophyll before they're sealed up for curing. I try to put 21 days between harvest and cure when I do a regular hang dry/burp. The original low and slow instructions have that or longer:

Place in the crisper of a frost free refrigerator.
3 to 5 week process.

 

[Trala]

Hi all. Is 11 days too quick?

The last run was in the fridge for 11 days. I took them out at day 9, Put a few nugs in the Mason jar and they registered 71 RH . Put them back in the fridge for another 2 days , took them out and put them in a jar . They hit high-60s, I left them out of the jar for a few hours and now they're at a steady 62 RH in the jar. I'm burping once a day.

I'm using the fridgidaire efmis155 set to 42°. I'm thinking that I'm not packing the bags full enough. Do you guys actually weight out the 28g per bag? Is it 28? And that's for the regular size brown lunch bags? All I have are the XL size.

And/or trimming too much. Is there a huge downside to drying too fast in the fridge? Since both RH and temperature are low and not burning off terpenes, what's the downside?

Thanks

I think they look great!

 

[SmokingWings]

Thanks that will make it easier to space out in the bag if i leave then on the stick.

True. Good catch. I do think of that while filling the bags but completely forgot out it when making my reply.

 

[europapa]

ok guys, unfortunately i cant get drying room below 74F, so i need to check alternative drying methods.
i have wine fridge but it is compressor unit, no thermoelectric. wine cooler by design should have humidity range between 55-85%. should i integrate small dehumidifier (peltier) in it at all?

Can i do low and slow drying method in this cooler without any upgrades?
i thought that i can do it with lower temps as i read on this thread, but apparently i will need to use paper bags. Can i do it without paper bags? if i use them, can i put 2-3 whole stems with buds in bags, close it and hang stems to the top of the fridge together with paper bag?

If low and slow is not appropriate for this cooler, what would be best method to use this type of fridge and achieving best possible final product. Thank you for your help

 

[Roy Growin]

ok guys, unfortunately i cant get drying room below 74F, so i need to check alternative drying methods.
i have wine fridge but it is compressor unit, no thermoelectric. wine cooler by design should have humidity range between 55-85%. should i integrate small dehumidifier (peltier) in it at all?

Can i do low and slow drying method in this cooler without any upgrades?
i thought that i can do it with lower temps as i read on this thread, but apparently i will need to use paper bags. Can i do it without paper bags? if i use them, can i put 2-3 whole stems with buds in bags, close it and hang stems to the top of the fridge together with paper bag?

If low and slow is not appropriate for this cooler, what would be best method to use this type of fridge and achieving best possible final product. Thank you for your help

Sounds like you should be able to use that cabinet if you can keep the RH down to around 60%
The paper bag will slowly absorb moisture so def advisable, but if the bud is already almost completely dry, you can use a air-lock tub, but leave a piece of kitchen towel in there to absorb any excess moisture or condensation
I always take the bud off the stem so they dry/cure more evenly
It does take a couple of runs before you get it spot on in your environment - good luck!

 

[europapa]

thank you for the reply. btw this was my first post there, i lurked before but as my harvest is close, i am looking for the solutions there... not sure if i should replace the wine cooler (its vivax CW-094S30 GB) with regular no frost fridge or this wine cooler is even better.
but as you suggested, it takes couple of runs to get right environment, and that will be my first cooler drying... hopefully i wont ruin it. if it's ok , i will ask here for more help when i get to certain point that bothers me or i am not sure with. best regards!

 

[Roy Growin]

thank you for the reply. btw this was my first post there, i lurked before but as my harvest is close, i am looking for the solutions there... not sure if i should replace the wine cooler (its vivax CW-094S30 GB) with regular no frost fridge or this wine cooler is even better.
but as you suggested, it takes couple of runs to get right environment, and that will be my first cooler drying... hopefully i wont ruin it. if it's ok , i will ask here for more help when i get to certain point that bothers me or i am not sure with. best regards!

Welcome to 420 - you will always get a response here, sometimes opinions differ because different things work best for different growers, so it's down to you to work out what makes sense/works for you
My first low n slow went wrong because I put it in the fridge too wet and the fridge was also wet from condensation
That is why I use the plastic tub/kitchen towel method now

 

[InTheShed]

ok guys, unfortunately i cant get drying room below 74F

I'm not trying to dissuade you from low and slow, but there's nothing wrong with drying at 74ºF. It's the relative humidity percentatge that matters rather than the actual temperature.

 

[Roy Growin]

I'm not trying to dissuade you from low and slow, but there's nothing wrong with drying at 74ºF. It's the relative humidity percentatge that matters rather than the actual temperature.

That depends tho Shed - if I tried drying at 74f/23°C here, it's either crisps or Mould City depending on the weather
Far easier to control in a sealed, cooler environment - for me

 

[InTheShed]

That depends tho Shed - if I tried drying at 74f/23°C here, it's either crisps or Mould City depending on the weather
Far easier to control in a sealed, cooler environment - for me

It's definitely easier to control a sealed environment if you can. I can't but I still hang dry all my harvests.

That said, if it's a temp of 74ºF and and RH of 55-60%, you're golden. If it's 80ºF and the RH is 55-60% you're still golden. Relative humidity is relative to temperature so keeping the RH in range is way more important than the temp, within normal household ranges.

Doesn't mean I recommend drying at 90ºF even with an RH at 55-60% because heat will begin to convert the THC to CBN, but no one should give up hang drying if they don't want to because the temps are in the 70s.

 

[europapa]

yeah i appreciate it... maybe i split harvest and dry with 2 different methods, still have 1-2 weeks until cutting first out of two plants. i got 74 F as my lowest temperature (with AC working whole day) so sometimes it goes up to 77-78. Humidity in that drying room (lung room) is between 45-65% depending on when the dehumidifier or AC in apartment works (yeah, i have both).
thought that i could buy portable monobloc AC unit for this room, but i am not sure if i can get 15C (59-60 F) with it as such temps are the lowest possible for these devices.

i thought that these fridge drying methods are upgrade regarding overall quality of final product (aroma, color, smell, effect) and as i wanted to make for myself best grow until now, i thought that i can do it with low and slow if possible in some compressor wine cooler (temperature range of 5 to 20 °C which is 41 to 68 °F) . maybe i'll replace it with better unit if i find some with acceptable price (i am in Europe).

I see that a lot of fridges, especially smaller units (up to 130 L) rarely have NoFrost technology which is suggested here, but low-frost can be found (different technology)...

 

[johnnyappleseed]

I thought that with those high temps you would be burning off terps no? Still, it's better than nothing. My basement is 75 & 60rh and I used to dry down there in a tent with a small fan circulating air. My bud dried in about 10 days. It definitely doesn't smell/taste as good as the lotus (especially as it ages) but it smokes and delivers just fine.

 

[europapa]

I can see where you're coming from with those concerns about high temps and terps. Years ago, I also grew in a tent and had a similar setup with a small fan circulating air. Honestly, it was awesome—definitely better than the "high-grade street product." The results were quite satisfying.

However, I'm looking to take it a step further and improve the quality even more. That's why I'm trying the "low and slow" method in the fridge. By keeping the temperature lower and humidity stable, I'm hoping to preserve more terpenes and enhance the overall flavor and aroma of the buds. It seems promising, and I'm excited to see how it turns out.

Has anyone tried to dry at higher temps in wine coolers or fridges?
Specifically, has anyone tried maintaining 55-60°F/60% RH in these units? Do we get the same product as from air drying, or do we preserve aromas, color, appeal, and taste better than the classic 60/60 air drying method? I'd love to hear about others' experiences with this approach. At last, cannatrol devices is pretty simillar to wine cooler with more precise and adjustable humidity control which can be solved with peltier dehumidifier inside cooler, connected to inkbird humidity controller.

 

[Roy Growin]

I can see where you're coming from with those concerns about high temps and terps. Years ago, I also grew in a tent and had a similar setup with a small fan circulating air. Honestly, it was awesome—definitely better than the "high-grade street product." The results were quite satisfying.

However, I'm looking to take it a step further and improve the quality even more. That's why I'm trying the "low and slow" method in the fridge. By keeping the temperature lower and humidity stable, I'm hoping to preserve more terpenes and enhance the overall flavor and aroma of the buds. It seems promising, and I'm excited to see how it turns out.

Has anyone tried to dry at higher temps in wine coolers or fridges?
Specifically, has anyone tried maintaining 55-60°F/60% RH in these units? Do we get the same product as from air drying, or do we preserve aromas, color, appeal, and taste better than the classic 60/60 air drying method? I'd love to hear about others' experiences with this approach. At last, cannatrol devices is pretty simillar to wine cooler with more precise and adjustable humidity control which can be solved with peltier dehumidifier inside cooler, connected to inkbird humidity controller.

The batch I have in the fridge [Lemon Pineapple, 3-4 months] still smells as fresh as the day it was chopped; eye-watering; there is no green smell and the taste is pure and pungent
It's at RH 57% but still sticky, so I tend to put it in my stash pot/grind the day before use
It's perfect for freezer hash too, then I'll use the grounds for butter

 

[johnnyappleseed]

However, I'm looking to take it a step further and improve the quality even more. That's why I'm trying the "low and slow" method in the fridge. By keeping the temperature lower and humidity stable, I'm hoping to preserve more terpenes and enhance the overall flavor and aroma of the buds. It seems promising, and I'm excited to see how it turns out.

Yeah, for me the lotus is just easier. I don't have to worry about airflow, setting up another tent, etc.

A couple things I didn't know (and didn't see in my research): 1 - the smell. Since there is no carbon filter, you're going to smell it throughout the entire house. A definite deal-breaker for some.

2. Even though it's easy to throw the bud in a fridge and set the temperature to 42 ( I'm using the Frigidaire EF ms155 with the digital controller built in), there are still other variables that will affect the final product:

How wet your bud is before it goes into the fridge, how aggressive you trim your buds, and how full or empty the brown paper bags are.

It seems to be mostly trial and error. Last cure I trimmed my buds way too much and did not put enough in the brown paper bags and they dried in about 10 days. Next run I'm going to trim less aggressively and fill the bags up more.

 

[Trala]

ok guys, unfortunately i cant get drying room below 74F, so i need to check alternative drying methods.
i have wine fridge but it is compressor unit, no thermoelectric. wine cooler by design should have humidity range between 55-85%. should i integrate small dehumidifier (peltier) in it at all?

Can i do low and slow drying method in this cooler without any upgrades?
i thought that i can do it with lower temps as i read on this thread, but apparently i will need to use paper bags. Can i do it without paper bags? if i use them, can i put 2-3 whole stems with buds in bags, close it and hang stems to the top of the fridge together with paper bag?

If low and slow is not appropriate for this cooler, what would be best method to use this type of fridge and achieving best possible final product. Thank you for your help

Hello there

I like in a super hot climate with high humidity and since being introduced to the fridge dry, it’s the only way I dry. I find it keeps my bed looking vibrant and fresh. I’ve also started using grove bags to cure and they are the ducks nuts.

I clip all my bud off the stem, put it in paper bags, put it in a frost free specifically weed drying fridge that doesn’t get opened and closed. Leave it completely for 7 days, check flip bags, then on the 9th day I shake it into a cardboard dish. Dry for one more day then it’s dry.

I also reuse my paper bags.

 

[Trala]

That depends tho Shed - if I tried drying at 74f/23°C here, it's either crisps or Mould City depending on the weather
Far easier to control in a sealed, cooler environment - for me

For me there is no comparison between a room temp dry and a fridge dry.

My bud stays so fresh, green and vibrant. And the taste is just lovely.

Once you find your groove it is so simple. I will say it took a good 6 or 7 fridge dries to find the sweet spot.

 

[johnnyappleseed]

There is a lot of talk on the lotus Reddit about keeping the temps at 60f/60rh in the fridge?!?! I've only seen these numbers in regards to air drying.

Apparently, these number are different depending on whether fridge has a compressor or thermo electric?!? I have the fridgidaire efmis155. I should be setting mine to 42ish right?

 

[InTheShed]

There is a lot of talk on the lotus Reddit about keeping the temps at 60f/60rh in the fridge?!?! I've only seen these numbers in regards to air drying.

Apparently, these number are different depending on whether fridge has a compressor or thermo electric?!? I have the fridgidaire efmis155. I should be setting mine to 42ish right?

I believe this thread was created for frost free fridges running at regular fridge temps without modifying humidity, and I've never seen a fridge that lets you set 60° as an option!

Mine's at 37°.