i cut them down to branches then hang them inside of a cardboard box on yo-yo string and close it up all the way when humidity is low for 5-7 days then cure in jars made of glass and crack em open like once or twice a day till perfect. If humidity was higher then just a dark closet for the 5-7 day period and on to the jars. The buds that sit for like a month or two before getting smoked are the tastiest and the most potent.IMHO! Also removing the extra leaves is best done while plants are still fresh looking and it helps out with smell and taste removing the hay smell that was mentioned earlier....The slower they dry without rotting or getting moldy the better the quality. A 2 week dry with a 2 month cure would be the best but difficult to acheive.