DrZiggy's Low And Slow Drying: Maximizing Your Harvest

[medmanmike]

It pains me to hear of moldy buds Mike. My policy has been to check with a hygrometer, and if I’m not finishing with rice they stay in the fridge until I get something close to 65%. Big, dense buds normally get cut down in my world to a consistent bud size. I don’t have to be concerned with bag appeal.

I understand the desire to have a big, honkin’ bud though.



BrixNewb recently had some dense Blueberry that probably would’ve taken 3-4 weeks to dry completely had he not decided to finish in the drying tent. It was a batch we had to accept was too big for his fridge space.

Dense buds take longer. That’s why I chop them down.

Regarding staying longer in the fridge. Do you think there’s any issue with the buds developing mold over time? It seems to me that if the buds are showing 80% Rh AFTER three weeks, there’s a big risk. Or, does the cold temps stop the mold from developing at all?

Yea, everyone likes big buds!. I did cut these down a lot to get them closer to a size that would dry properly - or at least I thought I did. The buds were so damn tight at the top that I couldn’t peel back the individual budlets without damaging them.

I’ll have to go back and review the rice ball process.

Here’s some of what I lost.

 

[SweetSue]

Regarding staying longer in the fridge. Do you think there’s any issue with the buds developing mold over time? It seems to me that if the buds are showing 80% Rh AFTER three weeks, there’s a big risk. Or, does the cold temps stop the mold from developing at all?

Yea, everyone likes big buds!. I did cut these down a lot to get them closer to a size that would dry properly - or at least I thought I did. The buds were so damn tight at the top that I couldn’t peel back the individual budlets without damaging them.

I’ll have to go back and review the rice ball process.

Here’s some of what I lost.

They were mighty pretty buds. *sigh* I don’t worry much about damaging them as I get to the apical tip. I cut and yank those suckers apart to avoid what you just learned.

The temps will indeed hold back the mold, so if bigger buds are what you seek you’ll adjust and let them ride another week or two. The results are worth the wait.

 

[kelticBlue]

Might tossing some rice balls in there for the first day or two help?

I dont see why not. Into the bag with the bud, hmm.
The reason I went with paper bags was to help absorb moisture in addition to breath-abiliy of paper, ((plus I didnt have any spare jars, DoH))
........ I think rice balls will work or thinking outloud.... box of baking soda or something like. I would not think anything like that would change it tooo fast, defeating the slow part of the dry.

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Regarding staying longer in the fridge. Do you think there’s any issue with the buds developing mold over time? It seems to me that if the buds are showing 80% Rh AFTER three weeks, there’s a big risk. Or, does the cold temps stop the mold from developing at all?

Yea, everyone likes big buds!. I did cut these down a lot to get them closer to a size that would dry properly - or at least I thought I did. The buds were so damn tight at the top that I couldn’t peel back the individual budlets without damaging them.

I’ll have to go back and review the rice ball process.

Here’s some of what I lost.

I haven’t heard of any buds getting mold on them while in the fridge through 3 weeks of drying. If 2 weeks is more desirable I would think 2 weeks then sealed up with some rice, like Sue does would be fine regardless of what the RH was at the 2 week mark. @SweetSue am I correct in remembering that you don’t check RH during the first 2 weeks of drying and that your system remains the same with each harvest.....2 weeks in the fridge then in the jar with rice balls?

 

[SweetSue]

I haven’t heard of any buds getting mold on them while in the fridge through 3 weeks of drying. If 2 weeks is more desirable I would think 2 weeks then sealed up with some rice, like Sue does would be fine regardless of what the RH was at the 2 week mark. @SweetSue am I correct in remembering that you don’t check RH during the first 2 weeks of drying and that your system remains the same with each harvest.....2 weeks in the fridge then in the jar with rice balls?

Yes indeed Magoo. I cut the buds to as uniform a size as possible and bag them for 2 weeks. The only time I disturb mine is once, 3 days in when I open the bags, stick my hand in and gently bounce the fresh, sticky buds apart.

Two weeks from the day I bagged they go into my large jar with the rice ball suspended over them and a hygrometer that I’ll watch until the RH reaches 55%. At that point I remove the rice and leave it overnight. I may repeat that process one more time, but usually it’s been at 62-65% RH by morning.

 

[InTheShed]

I may be totally wrong but I believe the advantage to doing this in a frost-free fridge is that the fridge is periodically removing moisture from the space and draining it to an external tray at the bottom for evaporation.

 

[DobeWan]

Just poked my head into a thread about quick drying and needed to rinse that stink off with a visit to this thread.

Mold is way too easy to get if you're not careful, but by jarring early rather than by leaving buds in the fridge. I think some people worry about airy buds from overdrying, but in my experience, airy buds are determined when the plant is alive, not after it has been chopped. I err on the side of too dry before jarring since my learning experience with mold, and what goes into the jar feeling bone dry always "recovers" very quickly. I burped a jar last week and left the buds out for a day in my super dry house, and after a couple of days in the jar with a Boveda they're back to the correct consistency.

As for leaving buds in the fridge, several of the wise folks here recommended that my plants would not be a worry when left for an extended period. I ended up going 3 weeks for my most recent dry and never saw any signs of mold forming. The slower the dry the better the bud in my experience. I can't wait to see how this bud is once a proper cure is finished. When I injured myself over the summer, I left some untrimmed bud and trim in the fridge for 4-5 months without mold forming. I had a bowl of rice in there too, and it looked like a tiny bit formed within the rice bowl. I tossed everything and disinfected the fridge to be safe, but the bud looked fine.

I think the overall point is, mold is unlikely to form with an extended stay.

 

[SweetSue]

Thank you for that testimony DobeWan. Experience trumps fear every time

I understand the "stink." Lol! I've quietly backed out of a few rooms out there myself.

 

[Sctanley007]

I love your attention to detail Randy. To be honest, it never occurred to me to check water temperature. I've always handled the branches with delicacy when washing, and don't bump anything. I've found next to nothing left behind in my buckets and basins when I'm done washing.

I use the hottest water from my faucet for the first bucket and the coldest for the second one, filling the final rinse bucket with room temp water. Doc has told us there's no need to use hot or cold, to use room temp water in all three buckets. Makes sense, but the cook in me still insists on the hot-to-cold-to-tepid dance.

Sorry if this question is answered later but I’m up to this point and don’t want to loose my place.

Question is...we’re trying to keep all the flavors and smells which float away via low and slow, why doesn’t washing the bud invery hot water adversely effect our end goal? Is it too short of an exposure to the high temp?

Why wouldn’t you wash in water just below the dissipation temp?

 

[Derbybud]

You shouldn't be washing your product in hot water. Warm water is what we use. I use water at about 100f, with 2 cold washes.

 

[JustMeds]

Yes, warm not hot here. Anything good is not supposed to be water soluble, but no chance taken.

 

[Sctanley007]

Well I did it!!! It took the better part of the week but I finished reading every post...from jars to bags, bananas to caves, fridges to dehydrators, sex to sleep, temperature to relative humidity.

I have learned so much from each post, question, answer and photo. It was beyond informative and wonderful to see the thread grow, morph and come to successful fruition. To all I say Congratulations and thank you.

I’m very excited to now decipher my notes and try both methods as I am fortunate enough to have an unused fridge, dorm fridge and dehydrator. Even more excited that I have 5 girls (3 CKS Black Indica’sand 2 bagseed supposedly Dutch Treat) that we’re flipped December 5th.

When time comes I am going to try to divide the harvest and do some in the dehydrator and some in the fridge. I cannot wait to experience a properly dried and cured product.

Once again thanks to all. I am truly humbled to be a part of this wonderful group of people.

 

[SweetSue]

Aww thanks Sctanley. We’re here to answer any questions that might arise. I’ll be interested in your comparison of the low and slo and cured vs dehydrated and cured.

We are a happy bunch of lab rats. Welcome aboard.

 

[Mr. Magoo]

Well I did it!!! It took the better part of the week but I finished reading every post...from jars to bags, bananas to caves, fridges to dehydrators, sex to sleep, temperature to relative humidity.

I have learned so much from each post, question, answer and photo. It was beyond informative and wonderful to see the thread grow, morph and come to successful fruition. To all I say Congratulations and thank you.

I’m very excited to now decipher my notes and try both methods as I am fortunate enough to have an unused fridge, dorm fridge and dehydrator. Even more excited that I have 5 girls (3 CKS Black Indica’sand 2 bagseed supposedly Dutch Treat) that we’re flipped December 5th.

When time comes I am going to try to divide the harvest and do some in the dehydrator and some in the fridge. I cannot wait to experience a properly dried and cured product.

Once again thanks to all. I am truly humbled to be a part of this wonderful group of people.

Next we can get you to try a cob cure. Lol

 

[kelticBlue]

Well I did it!!! It took the better part of the week but I finished reading every post..

it is a big thread, you have great stamina. It is a good method for me. work best with my time and space.
i would also look into the cob cure...... if you had a mind to......

grateday

 

[Derbybud]

This time of year really changes my drying time. My refrigerator is in our mud room that has minimal heat which causes it to not cycle enough to keep pulling the humidity out of it. I'm on 3 weeks and things are still too moist to start curing. I might have to dry some other way this time of year. Just something for others to watch for.

 

[SweetSue]

This time of year really changes my drying time. My refrigerator is in our mud room that has minimal heat which causes it to not cycle enough to keep pulling the humidity out of it. I'm on 3 weeks and things are still too moist to start curing. I might have to dry some other way this time of year. Just something for others to watch for.

Thanks for the share. I'm assuming it'll just take longer, and you may find you like that result better. Lol! I understand many of us are on tight production schedules, so this is good to know going in.

I'm visiting with beez0404, who just started drying low and slo, much to the chagrin of his living partner. I contend she has a valid argument that a small dorm fridge is an optimal choice because the buds taint the flavor of any food in the fridge, and vice versa.

He's stubbornly refusing to admit that this should be a valid concern in anyone's world. I'd like a show of hands from the men in this room who've sacrificed and started using a dedicated fridge, in part to keep peace in the happy household.

 

[medmanmike]

Thanks for the share. I'm assuming it'll just take longer, and you may find you like that result better. Lol! I understand many of us are on tight production schedules, so this is good to know going in.

I'm visiting with beez0404, who just started drying low and slo, much to the chagrin of his living partner. I contend she has a valid argument that a small dorm fridge is an optimal choice because the buds taint the flavor of any food in the fridge, and vice versa.

He's stubbornly refusing to admit that this should be a valid concern in anyone's world. I'd like a show of hands from the men in this room who've sacrificed and started using a dedicated fridge, in part to keep peace in the happy household.

Let me put it his way: I knew better then to even THINK of using the household refrigerator! LOL!

 

[Mr. Magoo]

 

[Derbybud]

Never ever would I think of doing low and slow in the household frig. I like living too much. Lol