Curing Buds

aphrodisia

aphrodisia

Well-Known Member
I just wanted to see if any other growers here have had similar experiences like I am about to describe. I have done several grows now of various strains and (partly due to impatience) I always end up wasting a lot of bud the same way. I harvest my buds and hang them to dry for 10 to 14 days, then jar them up to begin curing. By this time they are dry enough to smoke but initially I NEVER get any buzz from my buds and I start thinking what a load of crap I have wasted my time growing. I notice its usually around the 5 to 6 week mark after putting the buds into jars that something seems to happen to them and the next time I smoke some its like "what the fuck just hit me" off my face high. Unfortunately by this time Ive already wasted a lot in smoking before whatever it is kicks in. I am very interested in why this happens and would like to hear from other growers who have had this experience and why it happens.
 
dankman1019

dankman1019

Member
I usually hang them for about 5-7 days, then I'll put them in a brown paper bag for a day, opening the bag every few hrs to let them breathe, then jar them for a day, then back in the bag... I do this until they have a nice fluff to them, then jar them permanently. Humidity and temps have a lot to do with the curing process, I try to keep the temp at around 65F and humidity lower than 40% seeing as the buds contain a lot of moisture to begin with. Maybe your not waiting long enough, what are your temps like?
 
MarinaraGuy

MarinaraGuy

New Member
That's why curing is necessary. You have to be patient in this line of work. Not only will it make for a smoother, better tasting/smelling smoke, it makes your buds much more potent. I wouldn't bother growing without curing. I copy and pasted this definition for ya, I think it's what you're looking for.
Decarboxylation -This occurs after buds are harvested and during the curing process. The
THC loses a CO2 molecule, which then makes the THC psychoactive. This process is why
drying and curing buds after harvest is crucial to the high that the bud produces.
 
aknight3

aknight3

Moderator
cured bud is always better, mostly in terms of quality, taste and appearnce, but i guess i could see it becoming more potent the longer it cures....but im pretty sure there is no solid evidence to support this...all i can tellyou is to be patient...dont smoke it period, or if your going to set aside a quarter or whatever before you start curing and smoke that and put the rest away for a month or 2 until its ready...bud is always better cured as i said, whether or not its more potent, i cant answer that question, but if you think so or think its best that way then stop smoking it before the 4 week mark of cure...simple as that...i know its hard but its well worth it...maybe buy an oz or half before you harvest so you have that while yours is curing. good luck
 
brodietheconeking

brodietheconeking

Well-Known Member
i have been smoking bud for 11 years,i never cure my bud as i smoke it far to fast,and even after 1 month of smoking the same strain 1 joint still hits me....,your obviously growing the wrong bud
 
aphrodisia

aphrodisia

Well-Known Member
MarinaraGuy said:
That's why curing is necessary. You have to be patient in this line of work. Not only will it make for a smoother, better tasting/smelling smoke, it makes your buds much more potent. I wouldn't bother growing without curing. I copy and pasted this definition for ya, I think it's what you're looking for.
Decarboxylation -This occurs after buds are harvested and during the curing process. The
THC loses a CO2 molecule, which then makes the THC psychoactive. This process is why
drying and curing buds after harvest is crucial to the high that the bud produces.
Click to expand...
Decarboxylation - yeah I think that sounds about right, thanks for the info. Like I wrote before I have grown a lot of different strains ( northern lights trainwreck cal. Orange blue cheese etc), of what turned out to be killer bud, but always only after the 5 to 6 week mark and I was just wondering if it was only me or not but it sounds like what you posted explains things a bit.
 
dochickory

dochickory

Well-Known Member
Any good tobacco leaf product is meticulously aged, under controlled conditions, anybody that spends the time getting the right strain and goes through a successfully grow should certainly age the art. I have friends who don't understand, they also drink Budweiser hehehe
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
It should NOT take 5-6 weeks to gain potency in most strains. I have experienced a couple that the buzz matures over a long period of time but not go from non-existant to good.

My initial thought it that you are harvesting a week or probably two weeks too early. Especially with your "impatient" notation.
Then your bud has to go through an extra 2 weeks or so for the thc to mature enough to become noticeable.
I sample my buds at several stages. After 3 days hanging I cut them down into smaller buds to place in brown bags. At this point there is already potency. After I transfer buds from brown bags to jars, still potent. After 2 weeks in the jar, potent and flavorful. Finally at the 30 day in jar mark, robust and potent.

What are your trichs like when you harvest?
 
mr sunshine

mr sunshine

Well-Known Member
When you cure bud it evenly dries it so the thc becomes active thats why people make hash or bho or kief out of dry weed instead of wet!
 
mr sunshine

mr sunshine

Well-Known Member
My buds always potent tho i could rip them off my plant dry then on my thousand watt in 3 hours and still get high!
 
BleedsGreen

BleedsGreen

Well-Known Member
Curing is for taste and aroma not potency IMHO, like another poster said maybe you are harvesting too early? Do you use a scope to check before harvest? I would think you are harvest with all clear tric and they are slowly maturing during your cure. THC degrades with age, granted it takes time and depends on storage but it degrades it doesn't get stronger.
 
aphrodisia

aphrodisia

Well-Known Member
"
It should NOT take 5-6 weeks to gain potency in most strains. I have experienced a couple that the buzz matures over a long period of time but not go from non-existant to good.

My initial thought it that you are harvesting a week or probably two weeks too early. Especially with your "impatient" notation.
Then your bud has to go through an extra 2 weeks or so for the thc to mature enough to become noticeable.
I sample my buds at several stages. After 3 days hanging I cut them down into smaller buds to place in brown bags. At this point there is already potency. After I transfer buds from brown bags to jars, still potent. After 2 weeks in the jar, potent and flavorful. Finally at the 30 day in jar mark, robust and potent.

What are your trichs like when you harvest? "


I normally harvest between 8 and 10 weeks. The last blue cheese I grew I let go the full 10 weeks but normally I leave them for 9 weeks. When I have given samples of the dried bud to friends before the 5/6 week mark they have always given it the thumbs up, so maybe its just me, I dont know, I only know Im never fully satisfied with the potency of my buds till I have left them for 5 to 6 weeks. I can definitely notice a difference in the potency of buds I smoke before this time period and after.​
 
A

althor

Well-Known Member
I will take that as meaning you don't know what the trichs are like when you cut them.
Go to Radioshack and pick up a handheld microscope (around 12 bucks). That is really the only way to tell if it is ready to be cut.
Do not go by the breeders "flowering time". They are rarely ever accurate.

I have never personally experienced what you are describing and I have buds in jars for over 6 months sometimes.
Usually my potency is there right from the beginning. Cure brings out the flavor and taste. The buzz will mature, but it doesn't gain much potency. You can LOSE potency during the cure if it is exposed to light.
 
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