DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

[Ugwad]

Yeah, looks like it was explained in the first several posts. Additionally, the screen shot in post one is of post #1315 of "DrZiggy's 2nd Journal - ACE Seeds - Doc Buds High Brix Kit - LEDs" journal thread. So you could probably find lots of related information in that thread, methinks.

Oh, I've been through pages and pages. I've noticed the people who are confused and looking for more detail. Then there are comments by people that must be reading details some where else. Where is that stuff? Only small pieces of what's happening are revealed in the first hundred or so posts.

I tried going back through the giant journal in the screen shot. Nothing jumping off the dozens and dozens of pages. I didn't look for #1315. Thanks, I'll try that.

Usually, these threads start off, describing technique. This is different. Why?

 

[DrZiggy]

Oh, I've been through pages and pages. I've noticed the people who are confused and looking for more detail. Then there are comments by people that must be reading details some where else. Where is that stuff? Only small pieces of what's happening are revealed in the first hundred or so posts.

I tried going back through the giant journal in the screen shot. Nothing jumping off the dozens and dozens of pages. I didn't look for #1315. Thanks, I'll try that.

Usually, these threads start off, describing technique. This is different. Why?

start here if you like..
DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

 

[SweetSue]

start here if you like..
DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

Thank you Ziggy. I believe it's time to edit the initial post to reflect tricam's arrival with the process already worked out.

 

[Ugwad]

start here if you like..
DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

That's what I'm talking about!

 

[Canyon]

Ugwad,

I think what you are missing is that the thread and a lot of Sue's threads are intended to refine a process through discussion and trial and error.

This thread has probably four variations that are being tried and discussed here. There is not any definitive "This is the best way to to this."

I am growing fond of buds on stems in paper bags until they are a little dryer than you would think they should be. Maybe trim off the stems near the end of drying.

I never know

 

[johnnyweeds]

Ok... One instruction was to "wash" the cannabis. What does that mean? Like with water

 

[Radogast]

Ok... One instruction was to "wash" the cannabis. What does that mean? Like with water

YEP - A gentle warm water w/something wash followed by cool water rinses.

'Something' being lemon juice & baking soda for me - H202 for others.


Bud Washing

 

[Ugwad]

Ugwad,

I think what you are missing is that the thread and a lot of Sue's threads are intended to refine a process through discussion and trial and error.

This thread has probably four variations that are being tried and discussed here. There is not any definitive "This is the best way to to this."

I am growing fond of buds on stems in paper bags until they are a little dryer than you would think they should be. Maybe trim off the stems near the end of drying.

I never know

I was definitely missing any instructions on "low and slow" or variations on it.

I really appreciate the recommendation on page 22.

If there were any kind of instructions in the first 5 or 10 pages of posts, I apologize for missing them, I tried my best. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by asking for help.

Three cheers to Furcifer!

 

[RheinRover]

I am growing fond of buds on stems in paper bags until they are a little dryer than you would think they should be. Maybe trim off the stems near the end of drying.

I have also been drying a little more than usual with good results. I haven't kept them on the stems but I'll have to give that a try. Also it seems to be easier raising the RH instead on lowering once inside the jar.

 

[SweetSue]

I was definitely missing any instructions on "low and slow" or variations on it.

I really appreciate the recommendation on page 22.

If there were any kind of instructions in the first 5 or 10 pages of posts, I apologize for missing them, I tried my best. I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by asking for help.

Three cheers to Furcifer!

No need to apologize. Your frustrated call led me to rewrite the original post, which has been now edited and reposted. It points out the pathway to the refined method, but assures you that there's much experimentation in the pages leading up to it.

This is a brainstorming thread, more than anything else, so there's going to be much play and curiosity, which we encourage in hopes of discovering new techniques to maximize the harvest.

 

[SweetSue]

I have also been drying a little more than usual with good results. I haven't kept them on the stems but I'll have to give that a try. Also it seems to be easier raising the RH instead on lowering once inside the jar.

I agree. My last DDA was so dry when I jarred her I was concerned. Once in the jars with the Boveda pack they came right back to 62% humidity. Last night I contrasted it with a previous harvest dried in the conventional manner. The low and slo product was so superior in smell, taste, and euphoric effect that I set the other aside quickly. It's still startling how much difference this drying method makes in the end product.

 

[KingJoe83]

Since beginning this thread we've had a member show up who'd spent the years since 1993 refining this very process. He's already worked out what we were trying to discover - the most favorable atmospheric conditions, how to adjust humidity levels when it's time to jar it up, and for that matter, how much time it really takes to get dry enough to begin that step. He's also worked out schedules for burping to maximize the effectiveness of the cure.

You're more than welcome to wander through our early explorations. We had great fun and worked out some neat ideas, including some interesting ways to make shelving, and learning to accelerate the drying with paper bags. But no one will be upset if you choose to jump right to the good stuff. You can always backtrack to find out what other delights we discovered.

The Good Stuff

This was my first recollection of this marvelous procedure we've fondly taken to referring to as "Low and Slow" drying. I can't believe we took so long to play around with it but OMG!!!! Once you've tried this unconventional technique dreamed up by our own mad scientist cultivator and canna chef extraordinare, DrZiggy, you won't look back.

The chief benefit of Low and Slow drying is the ability to retain almost all of the terpenes and flavonoids. When we hang to dry these volitile molecules float away with the air. They weigh next to nothing, so evaporation is swift. In the first week alone you'll lose over 30% of the monoterpenes you had at harvest. Those monoterpenes include myrcene, the terpene that helps the cannabinoids get a fast track through the Blood-Brain Barrier so they can attach to the CB1 receptors and introduce euphoria. I don't know about you, but this is a feature I want to support, as well as all the functions of all the other terpenes that get protected by drying low and slow.

Cannabinoids are are akin to the wheels on a car, and the terpenes the steering column. It'd be nice to be able to steer all that raw power, don't you think?

It turns out that all those wonderful things cannabinoids do for our bodies are determined by the presence of the terpenes. We're not sure yet of the importance of the flavonoids, but you can be certain once they start studying the plant the way it should be, they'll find a good reason to retain them, and you'll already be ahead of the game. This, ladies and gentlemen, is way out on the edge. I'd venture to say we may be the only crazy band out there experimenting with it.

And I want us to experiment. We're already discovering that it's not as simple as "put them in the fridge and let them dry." There are challenges we're working through, but the discussions are going on in journals scattered about. If we put our heads together and share our ideas we can nail this down and start seeing consistent results that everyone's happy with.

So what do you say? Are you with me? Can you bring yourself to "risk" part of your next harvest to get the best buds you ever smoked? Alright then, let's get to work. Share everything. Be long winded. Working across a virtual field has challenges, but we're adept at overcoming those limitations. I'm excited about what we're about to learn. When I consider the value of this drying technique for oil production I get shivers of joy. I can't wait to make my first batch of oil from buds dried low and slow. If the fresh harvest infused oil is any indication we're in for a treat.

Having buds tested and contrasted would be a great benefit to this project. It's already started with Canyon, and I'm anticipating others. Anyone volunteering gets the heartfelt "Thanks" from the whole membership.

We can change the way people dry, but that's not my driving motivation. Better buds make better oils, and better oils help my patients and my friends here at find more relief from the gift of cannabis. If we can put so much of ourselves into growing our plants can we do any less than our best to potentiate the harvests?

Ready to have fun?

Nice introduction sue

My name is joe I'm coming to try this method and learn so much reading these days but all worth it I'm sure.

By the way thank you and everyone involved for taking the time to share this gift and blessings to help us have a better end product.

Anything that will help ease my chronic neck and back pain sparks great interest in , so again thank you fir your time and troubles ...

 

[New B]

Welcome! My uncle uses the olive oil extraction method and get some relief,but I'm still tweaking it and I'm sure you will find relief also. I'm about a week or more haha away from sampling my first slow and low and excited.

 

[DrZiggy]

i post this here for those with spider mite issues..
Dusted Bud Genetics In Doc Bud's High Brix Grown By BrixNewb


from shiggityflip

"Take some string and hang it from a sticky trap. Lay the strings at the top of your buds. Mites climb as high as they can go. They will climb right up onto the sticky trap.

I thought of this a long time ago when I had some mites. When I hung the plants they would always crawl up and onto the hanger, then up onto the ceiling.

Order some hypoaspis miles predator mites. They live in the soil and kill fungus gnat larvae and thrip larvae and also eat spider mites. Every grow should have them!"

 

[KingJoe83]

i post this here for those with spider mite issues..
Dusted Bud Genetics In Doc Bud's High Brix Grown By BrixNewb


from shiggityflip

"Take some string and hang it from a sticky trap. Lay the strings at the top of your buds. Mites climb as high as they can go. They will climb right up onto the sticky trap.

I thought of this a long time ago when I had some mites. When I hung the plants they would always crawl up and onto the hanger, then up onto the ceiling.

Order some hypoaspis miles predator mites. They live in the soil and kill fungus gnat larvae and thrip larvae and also eat spider mites. Every grow should have them!"

Can Canada . get those predator mites?

 

[DrZiggy]

Can Canada . get those predator mites?

i think they come from another planet!! everyone can get them...



oops predator mites...dont know that one...


here is company in Canada

Natural Insect Control, NIC specializes in Canadian Beneficial Nematodes, grub control, Beneficial Insects, good bugs to control bad bugs. Organic, environment friendly products for home, garden, orchard and farm.

 

[TorturedSoul]

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone by asking for help.

Most of us are pretty hard to offend. I only get bent out of shape if someone threatens my mother (she's getting way too old to handle her .38 Special), messes with my cat, or leaves the Hellman's Real Mayonnaise on the counter where it'll go rancid. And, having had the experience at one point of dealing with a girlfriend who had schizophrenia (+ manic biploar, + various other little issues) for a number of years, I could probably make allowances for the mayonnaise.

You haven't been messing with the cat, have ya? Thought not... I don't see blood anywhere.

Can Canada . get those predator mites?

Anyone have 100% success with those critters? Or do they just eat a big chunk of the mite population, leaving plenty of food on the vine, as it were, and then start breeding? About the only animal I know of that will eat ALL available food and then happily starve to death is... homo sapiens.

 

[New B]

Question. My digital temp/humidity gauge in my fridge says a spike of 52% down to 21% now at 36%. My hydrometer for reptiles that is analog say 44%
Which one should I follow

 

[TorturedSoul]

Ah, the great analog vs. digital debate, lol.

Is your lizard happy? His meter must be working, then.

But, seriously, those digital things are almost all made in the PRC (China). So I'd tend to favor the other device on principle. Aside from that, any inconsistencies caused by the sudden temperature/humidity shift that spike a digital gauge probably wouldn't be noticed on an analog one.

I occasionally listen to a cooking show podcast. They use and recommend a rather expensive meat thermometer. And I'm pretty sure I heard the guy say something about buying five thermometers, then using the two that actually agree with each other :rolleyes3 .

 

[New B]

So all that said. Are my buds dry enough to jar? Been 5 days in fridge.