DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

[SweetSue]

Dam nice stack of jars u got there i cant wait to get there myself one day lol hey I jus had a question about the lo n slo dry method once u jar the buds do u keep the jar in the fridge or do u take and put them in cupboards at that point??

The post I left yesterday for the dehydrator method is the same process we use for the low and slo Jones. I harvested my Devil's Carnival on the 13th and put the buds into the fridge in jars for three days, and then into paper bags on the 17th. Today I took them out and dropped them into a jar with a hygrometer.

They're stable at about 62%.

Now begins the process of curing, wherein the jars get vented every day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month until you're at three months. If you're using the buds to make oil you can do so as soon as you reach a stable 62% RH with this method. What we assume you'll get is an oil very similar to the Fresh Harvest infused, rich in terpenes, flavonoids, and who knows what else we were losing when we hung to dry.

I'm going to use this batch for my wake 'n bake.

Hey SuperSue....

I'm on my 2nd round of dehydrator buds.
I'm with u, I like the process for sure,this last batch of DDA and Devil Cream smelled a lot more than the last ones during drying, not sure why

I am curious when they get cured more how they are called low n slo

And Blazinjones, once they come out of the fridge they go into jars on a shelf. We then test RH with the meters and I've added bova packs to mine at first and keep rotating the package from old jars to new jars.
I burp mine, well, when I think of it after the 1st week ish. Once they are Below 70% Rh it gets less consistent on my burping

The plants will express differently one to another, so it doesn't surprise me that you got more terpene expression in one. I'll be interested in whether you can discern a difference in potency, or if you taste different terpene mixes in them.

And even if you decide to stick with the slow cure, you can always use this for curing, when you don't want to wait ? I can't find my dehydrator !! Must have loaned it & forgot who has it !!

Did you ever find it? If I were you, I'd buy a replacement. This dehydrator is a game-changer for me. I have 9 plants in bloom right now - don't ask, passion run amok - and the dehydrator means I can schedule the harvests four days apart and get them all processed between the dehydrator and the fridge without straining my sanity or running out of space.

I'm gonna run out of jars though. Lol!

Hi Sue and everyone else!

You may have a low and slo convert here. I did a small amount from my last harvest low and slo and my GF tried some over the past 2 days and said it is far superior to the regular dry/cure method I've been using in flavor, smell and effect. We are planning on doing most if not all of our next harvest low and slo, depending on how much room is in the fridge. The only thing is that I am bad about pulling jars out of the fridge so she said she will do that.

I don't think I'm ready for the dehydrator method but like the sound of the quickness of it but we're really in no rush since she always has plenty of meds on hand.

Thanks Ziggy and Sue!

I'm so pleased to hear this ween. It's almost unbelievable how much difference there is between this method and what we were all trained to do for decades. The first time I smoked some Carnival from the fridge it nearly knocked me over! Tell the GF I'm happy for her.

I would say it's been stored pretty badly it has not been opened and I don't know how long I don't remember putting it up it was in the way way way back of my nightstand behind papers and books and seeds they have even turned a funny shade of green and has not been trimmed

I am going to attempt to smoke it later today in case I go to sleep LOL

I don't call that stored badly. When Mara Gordon explains "stored badly" she means leave it in the cupboard open, or spread out on a pan in direct sunlight, or left out on a tray in the corner of your basement room and forgotten for months.

That's how you convert to CBN. Yours was in a jar, closed. The smell you're getting is the best determinant. You said it smelled good? You're gonna like it. I wouldn't wait until later, I'd be firing it up now, just to see what happens.

 

[DrZiggy]

Probably a stupid question but I need an answer to this one how long have anyone in here cured Bud for I am getting ready to move and was cleaning out everything I found a jar cookies and cream from 2014 smells good looks good curious to if it would be worth smoking?

until recently...thats all I smoked for a yr+ ...1,2-3 yr old bud..
its Vintage!


compare to a fine cigar, cognac, and aged Scotch , even Balsamic vinegar you are in for a treat!

 

[Renegade69]

:Renegade69, did I answer all your questions in my post yesterday?

Yes you did SweetSue. Took notes and everything. I'm a good student...LOL. I even got the dehydrator you have in the picture. They claim it's an updated version but what do I care. It will be here tomorrow or Friday and then the fun begins.

Any input on seeded plants? Drying the same way for harvested seeds?

 

[SweetSue]

Yes you did SweetSue. Took notes and everything. I'm a good student...LOL. I even got the dehydrator you have in the picture. They claim it's an updated version but what do I care. It will be here tomorrow or Friday and then the fun begins.

Any input on seeded plants? Drying the same way for harvested seeds?

Oh... Good to hear.

I wouldn't worry about drying with seeds if you use the fridge, but I'm not certain 95 degrees would be good for your seeds. We store in the fridge. My only concern is that the seeds might need to dry naturally to be viable. I don't know anything about seeded plants, so I speak purely from instinct.

If it were my plant I'd be hang drying it, more concerned about salvaging the seeds. This is assuming you want the seeds.

 

[SweetSue]

A repost from my grow journal.

I took the third teeny hit because I wanted to prove to myself that I could. I did, but now I'm not certain I can get this post done right this moment. Lol!

So let's take a look at them. On the left, dehydrated. On the right, low and slo. What do you see? I ask because I really want the input. Sometimes I miss the fine details until someone points them out.

Low and slo apparently retains slightly more flavonoids. The specimen on the right has a tinge more vivid coloration. I'll read up on flavonoids so we have a better understanding of what they do. Cajun had me purchase an excellent reference book that's incredibly technical and insightful in these matters. Nice how that worked out. We owe that man alot.

The dehydrated buds are more "compressed", if you get my meaning. The process pulls them back in on themselves more than the fridge dry does.

I was concerned that the dehydrator would damage the surface trichomes, but that wasn't the case. I see very little difference, if any, in the finished product.

The low and slo hit me hard with the first hit. Made me sit back and say "Wow!" right out loud. Haha! The fragrance of the dehydrated buds is so strong in the jar that when you open it the smell has you burying your nose in there, smiling like a butcher's dog. I've been testing the Thin Mint for the past couple days, so I haven't had any of the dehydrated DC for a while. I don't discern any difference in flavor or fragrance between them, but the low and slo definately hit with more punch.

Two processes that potentiate the harvest, all in preparation for an infused oil that rivals CCO, in my opinion. I'd say being associated with this site has impacted my life and my daughter's life in profound ways. Thank you all for every supportive word, and the willingness to explore with me. I'm feeling incredibly satisfied and surrounded by love at this moment.

Could be the Devil's Carnival, but I choose to think it's you.

Additional thoughts:

* The dehydrator allows for much faster processing, and the final product is superior to what I get from conventional drying.

* It appears the potency of the low and slo is superior to the dehydrator, but not by enough to make me give up the dehydrator. How often are we rushed to get a plant down and processed because life got more exciting than we'd planned for? How delightful will it be to get an honest taste of the plant you nurtured for 4-6 months within a week of chopping the tree down?

Yeah.... I'm keeping my dehydrator in action and buying more jars.

* The compressed buds would take up less storage space.

* In all likelihood I'll split my harvests in half and do both methods. This allows me to get to the finish line faster, which satisfies that part of me that believes the universe exists to fill my desires immediately. The low and slo I think of as the cream of the crop, but until I can have any of it tested there's no way of knowing how different the samples are from each other. I believe they're close enough to be considered the same.

 

[SweetSue]

Has anyone else noticed that drying in the paper bags controls the smell better?

 

[Zafu]

Silly question and if already asked, apologies. Any reason to not use cheese cloth instead of nylon on jars in the fridge? Seems easier to find.

 

[InTheShed]

Has anyone else noticed that drying in the paper bags controls the smell better?

You mean controls the smell in the fridge? Definitely not. Every time someone opened the fridge door the whole kitchen smelled like dope!

Maybe better than open-top jars, but I haven't tried that one.

 

[SweetSue]

Low and slo buds are prettier.

 

[SweetSue]

Silly question and if already asked, apologies. Any reason to not use cheese cloth instead of nylon on jars in the fridge? Seems easier to find.

I used silk, but cheesecloth is acceptable. I now leave the tops wide open. Better venting that way. Just put less in the jars and stack them on their sides.

 

[kelticBlue]

Has anyone else noticed that drying in the paper bags controls the smell better?

I agree with intheshed I get a big stink around Day 3. But never tried the open jar.

You still use paper bags for the entire time, correct keltic? The boy looks wonderful. Thank goodness for the wonders of cannabis oil.

i do. Indeed in the bag the whole time. He is doing aw right little fella. Not a seizure since constant canna coconut oils.
He was born wild and taken from his momma too soon almost 16 years ago. He has completed a big part of my life.

 

[Zafu]

This is the method I am using. Worked well with my last harvest. I find the buds to be stickier when dry, if that makes sense.

I have a small early bud in the fridge and just finished a small plant of my mine.

Here is my Triple Purple Rhino a small bud to get a taste of it. My first time growing Triple Purple Rhino. It was open pollinated with a Triple Purple Rhino Male during early flower. in bred seeds

Here my boy cat watches over my work : - )

The nugget in repose.

Try the process it works, my climate has a tendency toward high humidity, this method helps me get to the cure much easier.

Pardon me. /off topic

Do I detect a fellow dead head?

 

[SweetSue]

Pardon me. /off topic

Do I detect a fellow dead head?

I can't answer for keltic, but I wanted to assure you, there is no off-topic on my threads. If there was I'd be the biggest offender.

 

[Imhigh85]

I would say that weed in my drawer. Badly for the last 4 years I smoked 1.5 gram yesterday throughout the day I don't remember doing it put my wife says I was in and out of sleep all day and hardly move I just remember waking up from sleeping LOL I would say it will take me a while to finish the rest of the jar

 

[SweetSue]

I would say that weed in my drawer. Badly for the last 4 years I smoked 1.5 gram yesterday throughout the day I don't remember doing it put my wife says I was in and out of sleep all day and hardly move I just remember waking up from sleeping LOL I would say it will take me a while to finish the rest of the jar

Look at that, the universe orchestrated excellent sleep meds for you. How lucky are you?

 

[Imhigh85]

The way that stuff punched me in the face and was so heavy got me to looking up things on the internet I typed in all cured cannabis and he's articles started popping up about a tomb that was found in the Gobi Desert that was dated 2500 years old the guy in side was laid on a wood platform with 30 pot plants put over his chest in a religious fashion and was left that way and was discovered in 2016 November 16th I got this story from National Geographic news

yes I think it will be luck to have this because there's no way I'd be able to replicate that again

 

[InTheShed]

Speaking of cured cannabis, my first harvest has been curing in jars ~62% RH for close to two months now. 1 month tests resulted in a short but powerful high (like a one-hit wonder). Some folks liked that the fact that it didn't last because they could get back to earth if they needed to but others wished it would have lasted longer.

Haven't had a chance for a second test yet, but I was wondering if the lasting effect is something that traditionally develops with curing. It certainly seems to with Imhigh85's newly discovered stash!

 

[Oldgrowth]

Here's what I do Kriaze.


I cut the top branch then the other branches, remove the sugar leaves and hang in the garage as it is ready. The harvest and drying takes place over several weeks. When the twigs snap it's time to trim. I kief some buds and save much of the trim (edibles) in jars that I cure along with the buds over a 2 month period. With > 12 pounds cured in half gal jars the "burpinp" process takes a bit of effort but the result tastes great. Hindu Kush is now being cured and OG Kush (the allgooey moniker is well merited BTW) is hanging waiting its turn.) I leave what remains on the plants after the branches are harvested and water then take the buds when they are ready to dry on a screen.

I'll use some but give most of my crop away. That is the way of my hippy people. Peace.

 

[SweetSue]

I'll use some but give most of my crop away. That is the way of my hippy people. Peace.

OMG, that was delightful.

 

[Imhigh85]

Yes this is a fact there is a lot of people on Social Security and with no income that are on medical marijuana and literally cannot afford to buy it so once a year I do take a crop down and fine the more needing patients and distribute it to those who cannot afford are normal 12 and $14 a gram