UPDATE on Buds Drying Too Fast + New Questions

For anyone just joining this conversation, please read my original post first if you want/need to, but it may not be necessary

Ok. So I jarred all the buds. They did gain their moisture back for about a day and a half. Within that time, I opened the jars three times to let them air out for about 30 min each time. I'm keeping them in a dark closet about 82f

2 of 3 plants have since lost a majority of the moisture. The last two times I checked them moisture level was about the same and what I would personally consider a smokeable moisture level. The third has lost almost all moisture completely, though this plant has been through a lot (heat stress, over fertilizing, and old soil), so I don't expect her to be the same caliber as the other two.

My new questions are:

1) I thought this opening of the jars was supposed to last 7-10 days, but it's only lasted 2. WTH is going on? Is it the temp in the closet or possibly something else?

2) Now, instead of the buds smelling like hay, they smell like pumpkin. Is that weird? I can't find anything on Google about it. Has anyone else had this particular smell? Could it just be the transformation from the hay smell to a [hopefully] better smell?

3) Now that the ventilating part of the curing seems to be done I'm wondering kinda the same as I was on the quick dry time... will this affect the quality or just the smell?

4) Since it dried so fast in the jars, how long should I continue to cure it for? What signs should I look for to know it's ready?

5) I tested the temp in my mini fridge. On the warmest setting it's 40f. I know the recommended temp for curing is 50f-65f. Do you think it would be better to put it in the fridge to finish curing or leave it in the 80f closet?

I'm just completely confused now.

Any help will get +rep.

Thanks in advance!

1. Your jars must be air..air..ass tight.
2. better then hay smell. Its a sign that its curing.
3. both
4. it can cure for months and months.....each time ya take some bud it will cure a little. Curing takes time.
5. just leave it in a closet shelf

Thanks for the answers

First pic attached (quilted jars) is a sample of the jars I'm using currently. They have a rubber seal. I assumed these would work. I have backup jars (second pic attached; square lids). They're also fitted with some sort of plastic that seals them airtight. I used the other for now because I thought they'd be better. But please let me know if you think they might be problematic.

Thanks again

Next time when your openning the jars dont leave them open so long. If you didnt leave them open 30 mins at a time it would not have dried so fast. You have to judge the length of time by how moist they are when you open the jar. Eventually you will be able to go longer periods without openning the jar at all. If it was not for the fact that it would mold you could seal the jar and leave it. Being air tight the humidity level cannot change until you release the air lock. It sounds like you should have gone with openning the jars once a day for less than 5 mins. Just dont let them mold

super2200 said:

Next time when your openning the jars dont leave them open so long. If you didnt leave them open 30 mins at a time it would not have dried so fast. You have to judge the length of time by how moist they are when you open the jar. Eventually you will be able to go longer periods without openning the jar at all. If it was not for the fact that it would mold you could seal the jar and leave it. Being air tight the humidity level cannot change until you release the air lock. It sounds like you should have gone with openning the jars once a day for less than 5 mins. Just dont let them mold

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Great! Thanks for the suggestion. +rep

I will do this with my next harvest, for sure. Right now, I've got the drying/moisture at bay. They're just right for rolling a joint. They've been sealed tight the past couple days. I don't need to keep checking for mold when they're at the right moisture level, right? Or would it be a better idea for me to since I haven't mastered this yet?

Based on Dirtyboy's response I decided I'll let them sit a month before I test and see how they've developed. Do you think it's ok if I open them once every couple days or once a week for a few seconds to check the status of the smell?

ETA: For my next harvest, is there a definitive way to tell how long to leave the jars open for? How dry or wet will they feel to indicate when I should close them back up? Everything I read before just listed amounts of time with no explanation.

In the past I have over dried bud for one reason or another. You can bring them back by adding one or two drops of water to the jar. Don't use much it will make the buds moist again. If the moisture level is where you want don't open until time to smoke.

good luck
mustang

from what I read in your original post, I would say less ventilation when drying. too much air flow will suck the moisture out of your buds faster than anything else. with temps as high as you have, I would leave the box you hang in intact and open the top only. it's all a matter of fine tuning on your part. try splitting your next harvest into several bunches and dry each of them separately using varying degrees of heat, humidity, and ventilation.

Instead of water you can always put a large piece of stem in the jar. If they are still a bit moist then you still need to be openning the jar and give a bit of air. I am also wondering how big your buds are. As long as your smoking congrats

mustang519 said:

In the past I have over dried bud for one reason or another. You can bring them back by adding one or two drops of water to the jar. Don't use much it will make the buds moist again. If the moisture level is where you want don't open until time to smoke.

good luck
mustang

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Thanks. I've read about different things to remoisturize. I know someone here suggested iceberg lettuce so it won't affect the taste or smell. Right now, they're at a good moisture level. I'm more or less worried about the drying too fast affecting the taste/smell/quality more than anything else. +rep for the suggestion

mr. greengenes said:

from what I read in your original post, I would say less ventilation when drying. too much air flow will suck the moisture out of your buds faster than anything else. with temps as high as you have, I would leave the box you hang in intact and open the top only. it's all a matter of fine tuning on your part. try splitting your next harvest into several bunches and dry each of them separately using varying degrees of heat, humidity, and ventilation.

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I was thinking the same thing about the box. I know everyone has their own way of doing everything, but I went with the way of someone who has a lot of experience. Apparently their experience doesn't really fit well with my situation! Time to revamp I suppose. +rep for you too.

super2200 said:

I am also wondering how big your buds are. As long as your smoking congrats

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It's funny, you're the second person to mention this tonight. The other day I went to my mom's house, her boyfriend also grows. He has 2 clones from me that he started flowering at the same time as his super skunk. All 3 of his plants are about a week away from harvest.

The super skunk's top cola was a good 9in tall and probably a good 9in in circumference. His white satins (the clones I gave him) were about the same size as mine. I'd say the biggest cola I got from mine is about 6" in length and maybe 5" in circumference, the rest of the colas are a little smaller than that and all the other buds are just the popcorn buds.

Anyway, they came over tonight and I was showing him my drying closet and the buds because I was telling him about how fast they were drying. When he saw them, he said that could be normal for their size. He said his super skunk takes at least a week to dry and that when I saw the 7-10 day drying time online that it was probably referring to the bigger buds. And that my buds probably aren't drying "too fast" but just drying for the appropriate time for their size. He also said my bud smells like his bud when it's curing, which is reassuring but still weird to me... pumpkin? I just can't find anything online saying that's to be expected... or even that it's a bad thing.

So if my bud size explains the drying time, then I'd be happy. BUT I read that the hay smell is caused from drying too fast. So I'm still a bit confused

I think with some strains it always starts off smelling like grass or hay.

super2200 said:

I think with some strains it always starts off smelling like grass or hay.

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Oh, that would be great if that's the case. I'd like to think that it's just running its course properly and that I'm overreacting because I expected it to happen differently. That would be a relief. I guess I'll find out in a month or so. Thanks again ^_^