hey grow,
It is really up to you..
A lot of people will cut the entire plant down.. and hang it upside down from a clothes hanger or put it on a drying screen.. KEEPING the plants in the dark with very little or no air flow.. keeping the temperatures between 70 and 80 degrees...
Mostpeople start the pruning process RIGHT when they cut the plant.... cutting the leaves off makes for a better , smoother smoke.....
HAnging the plants in a closet from close hangers and letting them dry for 5-10 days is standard.. drying time depends on bud density and temps and air flow... do not try to rush the process, you will FOOK your weed up.. no heat, no hot lightys, no super fans.. just hang and chill..
You will then bag or jar your weed when it is a bit moist.. just barley moist.. this takes some practie.. then you will take the weed out of the jar/bag for 15-30 minutes every day untill it reaches the perfect DRY.... if you just seal it in the bag or the jar and dont let it breath, you will end up getting MOLD and fook yourself..
if you over dry, you can put parsley or lettuce in your jar/bag fro 24 hours... unless you totally over dried your HERB... then you are stuck with powdert shwag..
hope this helps
your exerience after yor first harvest will teach you sooooooo much!!
iloveyou