A perfect cure every time

[Maripan]

Jars

Jars

Those are the exact same jars I purchased at the Container Store...!

Anyway a couple of quick pics

And a link to the thread I've started for my harvest and cure.

https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=192078

This is gonna be EPIC! Cheers Bro!

 

[Maripan]

Finally got through the entire thread. One of the best on ICM! Sorry for the multiple posts in reply to older posts. I'm caught up now.

Thanks Simon!

 

[Warped1]

You know when it get's right down to it, especially for new growers..and I can't even put myself in that group yet.. the drying and curing are as important and growing. Thanks guys, this info is very appreciated.

 

[brifunforme]

So when in between 60-65 humidity should you still burp the jars until you are in the 55-60 range?

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

.

 

[simon]

So when in between 60-65 humidity should you still burp the jars until you are in the 55-60 range?

I'm getting to the point where I'm beginning to regret mentioning the 55-60% range. It is meant for folks who want to cure and store the product for a LONG time. There's a range, because the moisture content can vary relative to the density of the product, as well as its initial drying time. This, in turn, hinges on one's individual environmental conditions.

Let me give a working example. Years ago, I jarred some Aurora Indica for several months. When the product went into the containers, the humidly inside the cars stayed at ~58%. The flowers were dried, I checked their condition every day or so, and finally sealed them after a couple of weeks. When I opened the jars months later, the product felt wet. It measured ~75%. If the conditions were warmer, there would have been mold. This is why I give a range. The state of the flowers directly hinges on how the product was worked. In my case, I failed to note the excess moisture in the stems that was redistributed to the rest of the flower over time. As such, I would have been better off jarring at a lower percentage.

If you're curing for semi-immediate consumption - meaning 4-12 weeks - I'd suggest staying in the 60-65% range. Once you do this a few times, you'll find a range that works best with your drying methodology and your preference structure.

Simon

 

[brifunforme]

Thanks guys, as of right now I just want to ensure the absolute best cure. After the cure is mostly done, then I will be dropping down to a lower rh for longer storage if needed. She is at 64-68 right now so I am still burping for a few minutes every couple of hours. Thanks for all the info!

 

[igrowone]

just to follow on to simon's and Ty Kaycha's RH ranges
that's where i've put my jars to for the last 2 months or so, 61-62% or so
very nice indeed, excellent smell and no signs of mold
even with the Caliber, there is some art here, thanks to those keeping the thread active
it's been what i needed to make sense of curing small grows

 

[thaiboxer]

ugh, k first cure & confused on one thing. Is curing in the jars without burping??? I've stabilized at 64% & its getting better but i can't resist opening it up daily. midwest in the winter, humidity is dropping. Is this curing?? or do i need to leave it closed for 4+ weeks??

thanks in advance.

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

.

 

[igrowone]

... Not sure if it's required for those who vape either. For me it's habit to just cure everything, I've started to vape more often so I might try vaping some bud that's just been dried - but i'll probably still cure everything as I never know if I'm going to want to vape or smoke and same with my patients.

funny you should mention that, just did that experiment myself
and there is a difference vaping cured bud
you don't get the harshness vaping an uncured bud, but i did get a nice mouthful of the chlorophyll taste
not awful, but once you've had cured, you don't want to go back

 

[chappie]

Not sure if it's required for those who vape either. For me it's habit to just cure everything, I've started to vape more often so I might try vaping some bud that's just been dried - but i'll probably still cure everything as I never know if I'm going to want to vape or smoke and same with my patients.

Its the same as smoking. Nicely cured bud tastes much better than dried, uncured bud when vaped. Arguably a small THC transformation occurs in curing also, and this would be passed off in the vaping experience too.

I often vape samples as soon as they are dry enough. They work jsut fine and taste pretty good - better than smoking the same sample. They do improve drastically as they cure, though, so I cure everything to make it as smokable as possible even though I vape 99% of the time. I am a designated grower for a medical patient though and she likes to smoke, so I aim to have as smooth a product as possible.

It might help some people to think of curing as a subset of drying. There is the quick dry and then the cure. The analogy of rapid charging a battery 90% and then trickle charging the remaining 10% makes sense to me. Its still "charging", where curing is still "drying" but the pace is slowed way down and its an important last step for a smooth-smoking product or a fully charged battery.

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

.

 

[thaiboxer]

thanks. So i am curing but will dry it out faster if i burp to much. A once a week check should exchange the air and keep the desired slow cure in process. Curing is not sticking it in a jar for two months with no air exchange, that would considered storing, no? Does curing need air as a catalyst?

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

.

 

[real ting]

Do you leave the bud on the big stems before you start the cure? Or do you leave them on the branch, cure, then trim them off after a few weeks curing?

 

[Ty_Kaycha]

.

 

[chappie]

In general I either do:

Cut the plant, trim all fan and as much sugar as possible, hang dry then cure

OR

Cut, trim fan leaves, hang dry, trim sugar leaves, then cure.

I like the 1st best, as trimming while very fresh is much easier and the resulting trim is better for bubblehash. If you dry trim, its very sticky and difficult to work with, and the hash is inferior (the brittle material powders up too much and more green material ends up in the hash).

I have never tried trimming after a cure, unless I find a bud where I obviously missed a spot. Since I vape, I am usually not too picky about a little leaf being left behind.

 

[BienVerde]

Nice tip. ty guys

 

[SuperHemp]

I'm using this method now - I've been opening the lids for a little while whenever they show 70%rh and sealing them again, fluctuating between 60-70% rh. Last night when i went to bed the rh was 63% but when i woke up this morning it was 59%?? Rh% has always been higher overnight, what is happening?