DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

[TorturedSoul]

I have a basement refrigerator that I plan to use in trying this drying method out. My only issue is humidity. Temp is 42 degrees, but humidity is only 16% when I first open the door.

If your basement is like mine, merely opening the refrigerator door a couple of times would have you posting to ask how you could lower the humidity, lol.

How are you measuring the RH in your refrigerator? I mean, are you using a device that has been allowed to sit in the refrigerator long enough to stabilize to the RH (and temperature), or are you just sticking your measuring device in for a minute or so?

BtW, does anyone else end up staying up all night reading and posting here, then end up totally screwed up because of it? I woke up a little after 6:00, remembered that I had things to do before it got dark and that one of them was to do some lawn mower maintenance. So I bolted - fell down the steps - out to the shed, uncovered my mower, pulled it out into the yard... Saw that I'd left the fuel valve open, so I closed it, tied a string around the handle/safety so the thing would stay running without me holding it, started it up, and went back inside to allow it to use the fuel in the carburetor/line and stall out. I went back outside and my neighbor came out and started yelling at me! Next time, I'll try to remember to check to see if it's 6:15 "am" or "pm" before firing up the lawnmower. LMFAO. (Sorry, Bob! )

So now I've got more time than I thought I did, and... I'm going back to bed.

 

[SweetSue]

BtW, does anyone else end up staying up all night reading and posting here, then end up totally screwed up because of it?

Yes

 

[New B]

Eleven days into the dry. Yesterday I noticed all but the largest jar, which holds the largest buds, had no moisture buildup on the inside of the glass at all.

My vacuum sealed jar stopped getting moisture inside about 3 days ago,so that's 9 days in mini fridge with burping daily until 3 days ago. Had a sample last night compared to regular jarring and burping.
Definitely more flavor a smoother smoke for sure and it felt like a steady increase and decrease of the high.
Instead of rapid peaks and drops like most of what I use to buy but I'm still working on not having to do that at all.

 

[Chris Scorpio]

If your basement is like mine, merely opening the refrigerator door a couple of times would have you posting to ask how you could lower the humidity, lol.

How are you measuring the RH in your refrigerator? I mean, are you using a device that has been allowed to sit in the refrigerator long enough to stabilize to the RH (and temperature), or are you just sticking your measuring device in for a minute or so?

BtW, does anyone else end up staying up all night reading and posting here, then end up totally screwed up because of it? I woke up a little after 6:00, remembered that I had things to do before it got dark and that one of them was to do some lawn mower maintenance. So I bolted - fell down the steps - out to the shed, uncovered my mower, pulled it out into the yard... Saw that I'd left the fuel valve open, so I closed it, tied a string around the handle/safety so the thing would stay running without me holding it, started it up, and went back inside to allow it to use the fuel in the carburetor/line and stall out. I went back outside and my neighbor came out and started yelling at me! Next time, I'll try to remember to check to see if it's 6:15 "am" or "pm" before firing up the lawnmower. LMFAO. (Sorry, Bob! )

So now I've got more time than I thought I did, and... I'm going back to bed.

Yes

You silly Kids

 

[SLHLover]

Eleven days into the dry. Yesterday I noticed all but the largest jar, which holds the largest buds, had no moisture buildup on the inside of the glass at all.

Hi Sue
If I understand correctly, you are drying in the jars which look to be in the humidity drawer of the fridge, right? You let them sweat off the moisture and then you open lids? (do you leave jars open in the fridge - and for how long?) Also how often are you opening these jars? Sorry for the slew of questions...

 

[Furcifer]

Will this method work for me if there's a little condensation forming on the back wall of the mini fridge? Temp is 45° and RH is 38%

Put an additional absorbent material in the fridge. Rice, brown paper bags, anything to absorbe extra moisture.
Just enouph to keep condensation from hanging around in a closed fridge.

 

[Furcifer]

some small fridges have a mini freezer that will ice up quickly when humid out.

Most are non-frost free. Turn the temp to the highest setting. I would also disconnect the freezer. I have dedicated these types of fridge in the past. They don't work well as a utility fridge. Don't store your beer and ice cream in it also.

 

[Furcifer]

BtW, does anyone else end up staying up all night reading and posting here, then end up totally screwed up because of it?

GUILTY

 

[Lonestar11]

Most are non-frost free. Turn the temp to the highest setting. I would also disconnect the freezer. I have dedicated these types of fridge in the past. They don't work well as a utility fridge. Don't store your beer and ice cream in it also.

Would disconnecting the freezer be simple? It's a mini two door fridge with the freezer on top. You're saying to keep it at its COLDEST setting?

 

[SweetSue]

Hi Sue
If I understand correctly, you are drying in the jars which look to be in the humidity drawer of the fridge, right? You let them sweat off the moisture and then you open lids? (do you leave jars open in the fridge - and for how long?) Also how often are you opening these jars? Sorry for the slew of questions...

They're being dried in the jars SLHLover, with silk over the openings to let the moisture escape. They get a daily gentle shake and tumble to get everything loose. So they're open all the time.

No need to apologize for asking questions. I encourage curiosity.

 

[KingJoe83]

Hey sue! Look what came In today thank you.

 

[Furcifer]

Would disconnecting the freezer be simple? It's a mini two door fridge with the freezer on top. You're saying to keep it at its COLDEST setting?

Warmest setting. Should be around 40deg F. If it's an enclosed freezer with a door that seals. Not an issue.
If it's one of those doors that just flap closed. The ones you have to defrost every couple of weeks. And you don't.
They can work. You just have to monitor the buds and humidity more often and, make necessary adjustments.

 

[Furcifer]

Hey sue! Look what came In today thank you.

Are you making a Tutu?

 

[KingJoe83]

Are you making a Tutu?

Lol no it's for putting over tops of mason jars for in fridge then take elastic to hold silk over top of lid sue said it helps in regards to moisture I think she said .

I'm going to listen her she seems very educated on the topic sir.

 

[Lonestar11]

Warmest setting. Should be around 40deg F. If it's an enclosed freezer with a door that seals. Not an issue.
If it's one of those doors that just flap closed. The ones you have to defrost every couple of weeks. And you don't.
They can work. You just have to monitor the buds and humidity more often and, make necessary adjustments.

They're separated. Going to play with the knob over the next week and see which setting is best. Optimal temp and RH are bout about 40-50 right?

 

[SLHLover]

They're being dried in the jars SLHLover, with silk over the openings to let the moisture escape. They get a daily gentle shake and tumble to get everything loose. So they're open all the time.

No need to apologize for asking questions. I encourage curiosity.

Now this is a clever idea. I assume you are doing it in jars as this way you pretty much know when the buds are dry when there is no more condensation forming - saving the need to touch them to check for dryness. BTW, do you ever empty the jars and wipe condensation off - or since they are pretty much open, it evaporates out?

 

[Lonestar11]

You took the question right out of my mouth SLH

 

[Furcifer]

They're separated. Going to play with the knob over the next week and see which setting is best. Optimal temp and RH are bout about 40-50 right?

Yes

 

[SweetSue]

Now this is a clever idea. I assume you are doing it in jars as this way you pretty much know when the buds are dry when there is no more condensation forming - saving the need to touch them to check for dryness. BTW, do you ever empty the jars and wipe condensation off - or since they are pretty much open, it evaporates out?

I try to stay out of the jars as much as possible while they dry. There are trichomes smashed up against that glass from when it gets tumbled, so I'll be careful about wiping. That can get messy unless you use alcohol, and I don't want to do that. The moisture evaporates with time.

I emptied the small jar into a paper bag today. We're getting low on stores and I have to keep the BIL stocked.

 

[TorturedSoul]

I notice that you, like most people, have a box of baking soda in your refrigerator. I'm guessing the answer is, "No," but have you noticed that decreasing any of the aromas/tastes in the bud?