So I can just chop her down? Also to all of you that are great at the drying and curing process...and this is gonna seem like kind of a lot. However is anyone willing to give me a step by step tutorial on how to?
I mean should I chop her, and hang the entire plant, let her dry then trim?
Or should I cut individual branches and do a wet trim then hang those, should I add a cool mist humidifier? I know it sounds like a brand newb thing to ask...in a since I guess it is. Lol. But I need some...broken down like you're talking to a 6yr old step by step instructions. Lol. This SC weather is...unpredictable for lack of a better term. It's hot and humid as hell one day....then super cool the next.
I can certainly tell you what I did for my last harvest but I don't have a ton experience.
My last harvest I split into two. I harvested two plants one week and then harvested the other two plants the next week. I only did this because the first two plants looked ready and the other two didn't.
Chopping:
1. First thing I did once I new I was ready to harvest is let the plants stay in the dark an extra cycle.
2. I chopped large branches at the end of the extended dark cycle.
Initial Trimming:
3. Removed all the large fan leaves an any leave that doesn't have any trichomes (sugar).
4a. I wet trimmed the buds on the first harvest.
4b. Did not wet trim the second harvest.
Drying:
5. Hung branches upside down in my 2x2x4 drying tent.
6. Had fan constantly moving air in the tent, do not aimed directly at the bud.
7. Checked daily for crispy bud and small bud stem rigidity. Mine took roughly 5 or 6 days .
Note: make sure the drying process is always in the dark except for checking buds for dryness.
Note: the temperatures were in the low 70s and the ambient humidity was around 40%
Note: to raise humidity in the drying tent, just add a pot full of water on the floor of the tent.
Note: to lower humidity, use a dehumidifier in the surrounding room It's not supper critical
Trimming:
8. Once the bud seemed crispy and the small stems were not easily bent without braking, time for final trim
9. Final trim of the buds, removing any remaining sugar leaves that have dried up and turned in.
Curing:
10. Placed bud in 1 quart mason jars 3/4 full and put in a small hydrometer.
11. Check humidity a couple times a day initially, if RH is above 70%, take out of jars and dry on a try in the drying tent for another day.
12. If between 70% and 65%, open jars a couple times a day for 30 to 60 minutes.
13. If between 65% and 60% open once a day for 15 minutes or so
Note: when I open them up, I shake the buds to make sure they are not sticking together.
14. If between 60% and 55%, open them up once or twice a week for a few minutes to circulate fresh air, this is where I like to be for the rest of the time.
15. Curing seems to take a minimum of 3 weeks
Like I said in the beginning, this is what I do, many people do things differently. The bottom line is "don't dry too quickly" ... just like the tortoise and the hare, slow and steady wins the race.
