Harvest & Curing DYI Drying Box - Critique

[RabbitFighter]

First off I hope someone will advise me if this is a really bad idea, harvest time is around the corner for my first grow, so I started reading through the forum and came upon a posting from ecstatic2d and his Quick Dry Method.

Up to now I hadn't really given much thought on how to dry my harvest. My initial thought was to just hang the buds in the top portion of my grow tent above my light rig while the new seedlings for the 2nd grow were basking in the light below.

But it appears that buds dry best in a cool dark environment which is the opposite of a grow tent.

Here is a dry box with temperature & humidity monitoring which can be sealed air tight and light free. I should be able to keep the temperature under 70 during the entire drying period then go directly into glass jars for curing. Let me know what your experienced Autoflower growers think.

Thanks in advance for all comments - RF


Here is the box open, it is 12"w X 18"h X 24'd with one wire shelf.
You can see the back of the temp/humidity monitor which is taped to a piece of plexi-glass and sealed to the box.


The drying agent is DampRid, purchased at Home Depot, this one has activated charcoal for odor control.



Here is the back of the box with the monitor flap open.

 

[stoneyhomer]

hi my drying box is kinda the same exept i use my tents filter
4 inch duct goes streight into my tent all air leaving my tent is filterd hope this helps
:smokebuds:

 

[RabbitFighter]

Important things for a dry box/area: darkness (light destroys THC & possibly other cannabinoids) & humidity-controlled (want to maintain between 40-65 preferably, high humidity runs the risk of mold, low humidity run the risk of overdrying). Temp control isn't as important as long as the temps stay below 245F (so don't think that's an issue) & above freezing- in other words don't store them in your oven! The freezing is really a big deal as one can freezer-cure bud too but if you're drying/curing the more 'typical' way - you'll want to stay above freezing temps.

Hi Thai Buddha Man,

Thanks for your comments. In regards to darkness... I was under the impression that when cannabis is first harvested the chlorophyll is still photo active, by keeping it in total darkness photosynthesis ceases and no longer causes adverse flavors to the finished product during the drying process.

As far as temperature, there is a directly proportional correlation between temperature and humidity. My thinking is that the lower the temperature the slower the extraction process and more even drying. I'm not looking so much for a quick method, but a good method for drying to produce quality smoke.

- RF

 

[SeNiOr-FuN-gHi]

i havent started my first grow yet, so im a bigger noob than you, but for the curing process i dont think you want it air tight at the begginning because that will lead to a buildup of humidity which could lead to mold spores germinating on your hard grown buds.. do you have any experience with the damp rid? i used a similar product when i was drying mushrooms, and it didnt that well i went out and bought dessicant which worked alot better. i would suggest getting a fan to circulate air around it which will increase the efficiency of your drying agent, but might also dry your buds to quickly... im terriby sorry i decided to write so much, but sometimes when youre stoned and you see a window of opportuinity to help you get over ambitious! lol happy harvesting brahhhh