Questions on curing, about 3 weeks in, what do I look for?

I've just started the third week in the cure of my amazingly lucky first harvest (again, it wouldn't have been possible without the many wonderful people here at RIU that helped along the way). I'm very comfortable with every step I've taken so far, from harvesting to lines to paper bags to jars, and now I have them in jars where I open them and air them out once a day (twice a day during the first 7-10 days, then down to once now). The bud is already smoother to smoke (doesn't have that harsh quality wet bud is prone to have), and every time I open the jars, the smell gets stronger and better. I have them split up into three sizes, buds that go to the second knuckle on my pinkie and shorter are smalls, mediums are 2nd knuckle and bigger, and then there are tops (usually around 6-7 gr. per nug, maybe bigger). The tops and mediums are doing great, but the smalls seem to be unnaturally wet still. The small ones definitely still have a lingering fresh-cut lawn or wet hay smell;just a hint of it, but it's there. No fear of mold or anything, its just the bigger stuff seems to be firming up more, while the smaller stuff is still soft to the touch. It's definitely better than when I first pulled it though, in every sense. It tastes better already, although the taste is still not fully there yet (that is what is most lacking, I think), the smell is getting much better, with not even a hint of ammonia, but I think it will get even stronger ( I want it to STINK), and the crystals are much more visible to the naked eye under normal lighting conditions. At first I needed to shine an LED or use a camera flash to get those suckers to sparkle, but now they are much more visible. This also may be due to the fact I pulled a few days too early and didnt let the trichs go from clear to cloudy. Rookie mistake, I guess... Anyway, I'm wondering how long I should go with the jars. a few more weeks? Months, even? I've heard of people breaking out with 'last years crop', etc, but I never thought storing weed was good for it. I definitely don't want to fuck this up, as it turned out pretty good. And, is mold the only thing I should be worried about? Can it get TOO dry? Again, I apologize for the wordiness of this post.. Im pretty high right now, so I am kind of rambling . Thanks again, you guys, in advance for any help... Always appreciated...

i'd say your doing pretty well for 3 weeks curing, i've usually smoked half already, but yeah leave it longer if you want, it'll probably get a bit better but it should be good now. Think i've gotten to about 5 weeks and noticed it got better each time. then found a little bud like a month after that, that i must have dropped in my wardrobe, which was really dry but smelled so good. I've also the trichs do become more noticable with curing as well so it won't be anything you did wrong

Your aim is to end up with about 15% moisture still in the buds. Only experience will tell you when that point is reached in the jars. This is when many stop opening the jars at all, or maybe once a week, just so they can sleep without mold worries.

I got me one of these sealer and when I reach the 10-15% point, and the buds are exactly like I want them, I use it to pump out all the air, which all-but-stops all curing activity, ideally.

I've no clue why the smaller buds are lagging behind . . . I mean, this does occur when hanging entire plants, the lower buds often staying moist(er) than the tops, but removed?

The pump works great.

is it okay to grab a bud to smoke before curing is complete??

so how long usually afta harvest does it take to cure? sorry guys my first time. i heard hang in a dry , dark room, then brown bag um, then jar it up? im on my first grow an i am looking for a reputable seed bank besides nirvana that sends to usa. tho i am going with the hindu kush an ppp for this first grow. i am in search of sour d seeds and purple indoor seeds

leggoeggo said:

is it okay to grab a bud to smoke before curing is complete??

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no the other buds will know and form a militia. Seriously, they are your buds. Is the weed your dealer gets you any better tasting? If not toke your own.

Believe me, I've had many 'tester' nugs, and I've even given few to my friends under the guise of, "here's some shit I got from a friend of mine, tell me what YOu think..." And the response has been positive. I know alot of people would think it is ready now, and it looks damn near, but, the bud is still wet. When I break it up (with scissors, of course) the buds stays in little strips as it is cut. I'm guessing I want it to be that kind of borderline moist/dry where it fluffs up when broken up, and doesn't quite crumble, but diece break up into little powdery pieces, almost. I dont know if that description is any good, but I recently had some kush that was like that. Perfect, nice and crystaly, great aroma, and great taste. And the high was killer! WIth what I have, its got a good high (I think I pulled maybe a week to early, maybe 10 days, which could have made it that much stonier), the smell is there, but the taste is still lacking. Also, it gets harsh when smoking, another sign of wet buds, I think... ANyway, thanks for all thegreat tips, Ill keep posting with updates, and maybe add another pic or two of the updated cure..

yeah i know what you mean about the level of moisture when it fluffs up, love it like that

I READ IN THE CURING AHD PRUNING THREADS THAT IT TAKES A MONTH FOR ALL THE CHLORAPHIL TO DEGRADE AND CHLORAPHIL IS WHAT MAKES THE SMOKE HARSH

Makes sense.. Im coming up on week four (3.5 right now), and the flavor is still not quite there... That is really important for me... Smell and look is great though... That makes sense about the chlorophyll. My house is an older home with concrete walls instead of just plaster/drywall/2x4s... Its got cinder blocks or brick in the walls. Makes for weird conditions.. Really humid unless I control it by opening and closing windows and having fans going. Not that it has messed anything up, but Im kinda living ia natural cold-storage locker almost, so I think its just slowing down the dry/cure time...

Patience, is the key my friend. I am days away from harvest (just waiting to see the majority clear to amber change, as they are only about 80/20 clear/amber) I am hoping for wheelchair grade smoke out of it but its just bag seed so only mother nature knows. I have heard the longer it goes the better it is, but I have also heard once you have it jarred for 6 months, it does not get any better thereafter. I plan on final curing for a month or so in jars, and then rather than buying I will switch to my own grown, and continue the curing while smoking as needed. It should last me a month or so and my other 2 plants will be finishing shortly after, to continue the supply. I will post pics in a harvest thread of my own when done, I sampled some a few weeks ago but have resisted touching it since. I hope I can stay as honest for the moth of playing with it a couple times a day and still not smoking it.

Life is hard!!!



Those that know...........GROW

Yeah, its definitely a money saver... I've done the same, and I've only gone through a couple ounces since harvest (about 2 ounces in 4 weeks time, not much for me and my girl, but we are taking it slow). Im pretty much doing the same, trying to lay off for at least the first month, and then gonna switch to my own supply form then on out.. Hopefully save money, and keep me going till the next one is done..