First time grow... aproaching harvest... drying tips and ideas.

Hi there.

I'm approaching my first ever harvest. I have been thinking of ideas of drying. I'm not sure if I will ba able to use my grow tent as I'm planning on starting another crop strait away.
I have an idea based on a tutorial video of a guys drying his crop on youtube.
basically he has a cardboard box with string running horizontally to hang the buds from... Pretty simple.. In the bottom side corner of the box he hat a tiny computer fan ( one from inside a computer) whiched passed a gentle flow of air through the box and then the box had an x shape sliced into th top so he could open it out to allow it to vent from the top. All pretty simple.
my ide was to have the same cardboard box with string ect.... But instead of th fan like he had... I would just have a small flap u could open up. The top of my box would have a hole with a tube attached (a very small diameter ducting fassioned from some hose etc.) this ducting would then be connected to my grow tent.
So... The exaust fan from my tent would pull air in through the flap at the bottom of my cardboard box and then vent through my tent.
Does this make sense to any one? Lol... If so.... Would it work? I cant see any reason why not but just wanted to check. Iv come this far and would hate to ruin it at this stage lol.
I would also like to be pretty accurate with my drying and curing. So I wanna get my humidity spot on. If I had a hygrometer in the cardboard box... Would it give me an accurate idea on how dry my bud was or is there no need? Can I only get a humidity reading from inside the curing jars?
I plan to usy hygrometers in my curing jar/jars.
When drying in the box can I only go by feel?
I hope this all makes sense to someone lol... Would love any advice or ideas.. I'm open to any ideas... Even totally different to this one.
what works fir you experienced folk?

cheers and peace.

Drying is a slow process,

What you're doing sounds like it would dry it out too fast and you'd get hay smelling weed. You don't really want forced air running directly on your buds and the negative pressure that would create would probably cause moisture to evaporate too quickly.

IMO follow a tried and true method for your first harvest and then get creative.

Hygrometers are good.

When drying in the box dry until they're dry on the outside but the stem doesn't completely snap. Here's a good guide:
https://www.rollitup.org/t/ganjaluvrs-drying-curing-broken-down-into-understandable-english.372110/

Hope you have the caliber hygrometers.

The keys to drying are as follows:

Mid range humidity for a slower dry.

Adequate airflow but not blasting against the buds. You want an even dry, equal airflow around each branch.

No light.

Lower temps preferably no higher than 70 F.

Your idea sounds fine. You just need enough airflow to keep a slight current. The pressure from your tent exhaust should provide adequate airflow, but test it before setting it all up to be sure.

This process should take at least five days unless you're drying fluffy buds. You'll know when they're ready for cure when the stems ALMOST snap when you bend them. At this point, you begin your curing phase which is basically rehydrating the buds via moisture distribution then dehydrating them again by burping and tossing the jars. Let me know if you need some tips on curing.

I didn't want to recommend his idea just in case his exhaust fan was strong.

Reemis knows more then I do though. He's a three year vet.

taGyo said:

I didn't want to recommend his idea just in case his exhaust fan was strong.

Reemis knows more then I do though. He's a three year vet.

Click to expand...

I agree with what you said mate, I think he should rig up his airflow before anything else to make sure it isn't too much/too little. Drying/curing is finicky.

UncleReemis said:

I agree with what you said mate, I think he should rig up his airflow before anything else to make sure it isn't too much/too little. Drying/curing is finicky.

Click to expand...

cheers for your in depth reply. I get what your saying about them drying to fast that way. My extractor om my tent is not a very powerful one, its just something I managed to rig up for the time being. It may create just the right amount of air flow needed. Would have to set it and see. Would u suggest doing it in a box with out the extractor? Where do people normally dry their crop? I think I understand the curing process from all that I have read... I don't feel that I will be able to get it perfect without a hygrometer tho. Do you use one? I have seen pictures of curing jars with an (old skool) style one lol. Its like a gauge with a needle... Like a pressure gauge lol. Iv also seen that people leave a digital one inside the jar. I wanted to find the cheapest way of getting it spot on. I don't mind spending a bit extra tho to make sure this bit is perfect. I'm a few weeks off as you know but I wanna be prepared... Stayin one step ahead of the game lol. You can give me any tips on curing if you feel there are any problems I may encounter. Obviously reading is one thing.... Its the doing part that brings up problem's you don't expect of have read up about. I really do appreciate your help and advice.

cheers mate

UncleReemis said:

I agree with what you said mate, I think he should rig up his airflow before anything else to make sure it isn't too much/too little. Drying/curing is finicky.

Click to expand...

yeag i agree too lol. The drying and curing is the bit that im worried about the most lol. Iv almost got my crop to completion but dont wanna fuck it up drying lol.

Boveda 62% packs are nice. They absorb or release humidity to keep it a perfect 62. I would still use a hygrometer my first time around but once you've done it once or twice you start to get a feel for it.

I would also only use the boveda after I've burped for a little bit, just to preserve the pack a little. If it exchanges a lot it stops working quicker and in the beginning you're guaranteed to have very high humidity as nothing on the inside of the bud is dry.

I would have bought one of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Caliber-IV-4-Black-Rectangle-Adjustable-Digital-Hygrometer-Thermometer-1132-/261801677855?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf498941f

Most people hang their crop in a bathroom or small enclosure and run a fan oscilating, not hitting the bud but just moving air around to prevent nasties from building up. A dehydrator sometimes, to keep humidity lower on the outside so the buds "sweat".

Curing is more of an art. Once you do it and understand it you'll be able to dial in your own system. I personally think it's harder then growing the damn plant LOL.

A tip I can give you is remember you don't want ALL of the moisture out (At least I don't, I like a bit of stick but some prefer dryer herb), just enough to get an even burn. Have you ever had weed that was real sticky, like breaking it up with your hands left them coated in resin and buds. Yeah, that's where I like to leave it. What curing actually is is sweating the buds so the moisture trapped on the inside evenly disperses to leave you with a finished product that's uniformly moist, thus burning is even.

how would I know what is to much or to little air flow? I guess no airflow is to little as I imagin you wand minimal air flow. Just a slight, gentle movement of air. Where do you guys dry yours?
cheers

I grow in a basement so I put them in the same room as my washer/dryer and don't run the washer/dryer for a bit.

A fan pushing air around oscillating is enough, not directly at the buds or one side will dry quicker then the other.

Depending on how big your drying area is you don't even need to worry about air flow:


Here he's using an entire garage so an oscillating fan would do very little.

But if it's a small enclosed place it prevents things like mold from getting a hold:


You can see the fan and the dehumidifier he uses.

Around 7:27 he starts to show you his drying room.

taGyo said:

Boveda 62% packs are nice. They absorb or release humidity to keep it a perfect 62. I would still use a hygrometer my first time around but once you've done it once or twice you start to get a feel for it.

I would also only use the boveda after I've burped for a little bit, just to preserve the pack a little. If it exchanges a lot it stops working quicker and in the beginning you're guaranteed to have very high humidity as nothing on the inside of the bud is dry.

I would have bought one of these:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Caliber-IV-4-Black-Rectangle-Adjustable-Digital-Hygrometer-Thermometer-1132-/261801677855?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3cf498941f

Most people hang their crop in a bathroom or small enclosure and run a fan oscilating, not hitting the bud but just moving air around to prevent nasties from building up. A dehydrator sometimes, to keep humidity lower on the outside so the buds "sweat".

Curing is more of an art. Once you do it and understand it you'll be able to dial in your own system. I personally think it's harder then growing the damn plant LOL.

A tip I can give you is remember you don't want ALL of the moisture out (At least I don't, I like a bit of stick but some prefer dryer herb), just enough to get an even burn. Have you ever had weed that was real sticky, like breaking it up with your hands left them coated in resin and buds. Yeah, that's where I like to leave it. What curing actually is is sweating the buds so the moisture trapped on the inside evenly disperses to leave you with a finished product that's uniformly moist, thus burning is even.

Click to expand...

yeah. Sticky is how I want my buds. Just the way you explained lol. Yeah I understand that the drying is to dry the outer layer of the buds but leaving moisture in the center. When you cure you are rehydrating the outer again until its unifom, then burping jars to remove moisture and so on... Untull you reach your sweet spot.

Then you jar and burp a lot less, this allows the smell and taste to develop.

taGyo said:

I grow in a basement so I put them in the same room as my washer/dryer and don't run the washer/dryer for a bit.

A fan pushing air around oscillating is enough, not directly at the buds or one side will dry quicker then the other.

Depending on how big your drying area is you don't even need to worry about air flow:

Here he's using an entire garage so an oscillating fan would do very little.

But if it's a small enclosed place it prevents things like mold from getting a hold:

You can see the fan and the dehumidifier he uses.

Around 7:27 he starts to show you his drying room.

Click to expand...

sweet... Ill check the videos out and keep reading untill i come up with my method to suit the space i have. I dont have much to dry. Im thinking ill be happy if i yeild an oz dry..... More would be nice but its my first time and i only have cfl's also i have been aquiring equipment as i go... So only just got mist of the stuff i neef

taGyo said:

I grow in a basement so I put them in the same room as my washer/dryer and don't run the washer/dryer for a bit.

A fan pushing air around oscillating is enough, not directly at the buds or one side will dry quicker then the other.

Depending on how big your drying area is you don't even need to worry about air flow:

Here he's using an entire garage so an oscillating fan would do very little.

But if it's a small enclosed place it prevents things like mold from getting a hold:

You can see the fan and the dehumidifier he uses.

Around 7:27 he starts to show you his drying room.

Click to expand...

Fuch me sideways lol. That dude has some serious plant's on the go there. Wow!

Yeah Urban is a legend. I suggest watching all of his videos.

(The ones that pertain to drying. His others ones are like "Look I'm a cool ass old man smoking weed.")

UncleReemis said:

The keys to drying are as follows:

Mid range humidity for a slower dry.

Adequate airflow but not blasting against the buds. You want an even dry, equal airflow around each branch.

No light.

Lower temps preferably no higher than 70 F.

Your idea sounds fine. You just need enough airflow to keep a slight current. The pressure from your tent exhaust should provide adequate airflow, but test it before setting it all up to be sure.

This process should take at least five days unless you're drying fluffy buds. You'll know when they're ready for cure when the stems ALMOST snap when you bend them. At this point, you begin your curing phase which is basically rehydrating the buds via moisture distribution then dehydrating them again by burping and tossing the jars. Let me know if you need some tips on curing.

Click to expand...

hi there mate. Just thought id message you for a lil advice as I'm almost ready to harvest. I have read many different opinions on wet trimming... Dry trimming... Partial harvesting and all the rest lol. Id live to have a tried and tested method from start to finish to follow... Rather than bits from all over the place. If you didn't mind and have the time to give me a rough guide on how you harvest, dry and cure. I would be very greatfull. If you can help then thankyou very much. Peace

heres' what I do (do note i'm in colorado with very low humidity anyway)

harvest day: chop just before lights come on. chop plant at bottom. hang upside down in my mech room (h2o heater, well pump etc) for about 4 to 5 days. i kinda lightly grab some of the buds to see how they feel. stems bend but dont' break.

trim.

put in Cvaults with Boveda 62's. burp frequently at beginning until infrequently at about 2 weeks. they should be ready to smoke.

has worked for me but under your conditions (temps, humidity etc) you will have to modify for your liking.