When is drying done ?

Fancyhuh101

Well-Known Member
So im just wondering if you guys have any foolproof method of knowing when drying is done ? What is the best method to tell ? I hear find a brach about the size of a toothpick and it should snap, but not crack in half ? Does that work well ? Or pull a bud from the brach and it should snap off ?
I bought a moisture meter . Has anyone used one of those before? If so , what moisture reading should I look for ? Thanks
 

Fancyhuh101

Well-Known Member
So 9-12 % on the prong meter . Will it regain moisture in curing ? I ask because I tested a bud that's cured . It's 15.8% . So should I dry it to 12% and then it regains moisture ?
 

Attachments

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
I don’t know why but I’ve always tested the stems with the prongs. And it’s all about personal preference. I like crispy crispy bud then boost or boveda packs in glass jar. Some like it a tad more bendy.
 

HydroKid239

Well-Known Member
Trim a branch, buck the buds off into a jar with a hygrometer. See what the RH reading is after 24 hours. If it’s under 65% I’d get to work on trimming the rest, and getting into jars, turkey bags or your method of choice for curing.
If it’s higher than 70% I’d say you still have days to go on the dry. However if you jar and hold less than 50% after a day then it has dried past the curing window I think.
 

Fancyhuh101

Well-Known Member
Could I just dry the bud until the meter reaches 15.8%, or that wouldn't work? Because that's what it needs to cure to , not dry to ?

So u are drying to 12% then re-adding moisture to it ?
 

Tolerance Break

Well-Known Member
Interesting. how does this affect flavor/smell/potency etc???
I dont honestly have anything to compare it to. I think the hard work is growing to maturity. Everything else is pretty simple after that. I dont smoke enough to know if the high changes over time, or explain how. I have noticed smells evolving over time, but that all comes out after the cure, which is the last thing I worry about. Find what works with your lifestyle, experiment if you like, and go from there
 

Modern Selections

Well-Known Member
When the stems bent to a 90 and just snap they are ready for jars. Open the jars once a day and leave them off for an hour. Do this for a week or 10 days and the smoke will be just right.
 

chuckeye

Well-Known Member
I hang the branches until the outside feels a bit crispy ;)

Takes about a week, bending the stems never worked for me.

I buck the buds into a tote and leave it for 24 hours with a hygrometer inside. (They are about $20 for 5 on Amazon).

If it is below 70% I "burp" the tote twice a day ideally taking a month to get to 58%. Then vacuum pack in mason jars.

The long version > https://www.rollitup.org/t/how-i-dry-cure-my-harvest.1075011/

Cheers
 

Fancyhuh101

Well-Known Member
But can't you only use the hygrometer once you put the buds into the jar to store? How do you know when they are ready to put in the jar ?
 

chuckeye

Well-Known Member
But can't you only use the hygrometer once you put the buds into the jar to store? How do you know when they are ready to put in the jar ?
You use the hygrometer through the second stage of the dry/cure.

For the first stage of my dry I hang the branches in the dark at close to 60 temp/60% humidity as I can get it....

In about a week you could use your meter on either the branches or the buds.

Different numbers for each and you have to take into consideration where you are taking the measurement,

Small stem/large stem. Bud density.

Use the same location for each test, eh ?

Lots of variables
Learn to feel them up :weed:

I find it doesn't take long to get a feel for how dry the buds are by giving them a gentle squeeze.

Crispy on the outside without crumbling and a slightly spongy center. Takes me about a week..

Second stage of dry/cure, buck the buds into ONE tote instead of Multiple jars !

A 11L tote holds up to a pound but 3/4 full is ideal.

The next day the hygrometer should read less than 70% in the tote, any higher and that's mold territory..... .

If I'm a bit early and it's in the low 70's I will leave the tote open for an hour or so and monitor the rh.

If it is above 80% I would suggest you lay the buds out on newspaper, etc. for a couple of hours

Now you have the opportunity to easily monitor the relative humidity of ALL the harvest by opening ONE container ;)

Open the container for a couple of minutes twice a day.

When the tote reads 58% or 62%, your preference, the dry/cure is complete.

Actually it does continue to cure/age/mellow in the jars but that's another discussion !

NOW it is time to jar, vacuum seal if possible.

No need for a hygrometer. It's sealed/done/ready when you need it !

I have two year old buds vacuum sealed that look/feel just like they did when they went first went in the jars...

Cheers
 
Last edited:

2cent

Well-Known Member
5 days after you think it’s done it’s done
Drying is the first part then equilibrium must take place

ever notice that bud u forgot in the grow room month later tastes banging ?
 

DeadHeadX

Well-Known Member
5 days after you think it’s done it’s done
Drying is the first part then equilibrium must take place

ever notice that bud u forgot in the grow room month later tastes banging ?
Sounds like over dry in both cases depending on taste. Some like it really dry, apparently.
 
Top