I've actually found the paper bag process to be the most important part. I'm not sure what it is about the bagging but it makes a huge difference in the taste of the bud.
Here's how I see it.
In about 75 degrees at 50% humidity it takes anywhere from 5 to 8 days from chopping to the point they are ready to manicure. I'll actually take the fan leaves that have long stems and little to no trichomes from the plant earlier on as I've had problems with the large fan leaves coming in contact with the buds and causing a buildup of moisture. Mold is all bad. Anything big enough to droop down and cover the buds is gone for the hang up. This cuts the initial drying period by maybe 20% which might not be perfectly ideal for bag appeal but the peace of mind knowing there is a lower chance of mold ruining a large part of the harvest is worth it.
Paper bagging can go on for weeks. The buds reach this point where the exposed parts of the stems will snap but the inner parts are pretty flexible. I'll keep them bagged for as long as I can but I leave them on the main stems to retain that moisture in the smaller buds. Trimming them off results in some slightly uneven drying.
After a few weeks the buds stop feeling crispy on the outside and moist in the middle and instead feel evenly dry without being "too" dry. You know the feeling.
Once they are that perfect level of even moisture I will jar them up. At this point, a week of jarring with the occasional burping is all it takes to bring the smell out. The longer it stays in there the better, but whatever, a week is fine if I'm running short. There's usually more than one jar for a reason...
I hang dry to avoid mold, bag to bring out the flavor, and jar for the smell and storage.
I've done some water curing before and I like the stuff. It's handy to have a "stealth" bud sometimes and the stuff burns 99% white. I do maybe an ounce or so from each harvest to have around.
