Harvest & Curing How do you dry and cure?

[Cheeseman]

Hello all. Got a couple of ladies due for the chop next weekend. This lot are Mephisto Sour Crack autos finishing at week 9.
My questions for you is how do you dry and cure? What do you find works best?
I’ve only grown twice in the past, and have come across problems in getting rid of the damp farm hay smell and getting the rock hard dry stinking bud I’m used to buying from the local weed guy.
My first grow I flushed them with plain water for one week, cut them down, trimmed them by hand and dried the buds in a drying rack for four days, RH 55% temp 21 with a fan blowing onto the floor to keep air circulating. I waited until the stems snapped and felt dry on the outside before jarring in large air tight mason jars opening ever day for 15 mins for the first week and then every other day for another week and so on, but the weed never lost it’s hay smell.
My second grow was a similar way but leaving it longer before jarring, but again it wasn’t the best smelling or tasting.
I had hygrometers in each jar keeping the humidity around 60%.
Any suggestions on techniques to use this time? Any suggestions greatly appreciated.
What has worked for you?
Do you find drying the plants whole and trimming once dry improves smell and taste?

Thanks
YB
( pics taken today )

 

[AutoWonders]

I dry my yields in an old 2x2 tent (in stand up shower) with 4" fan/filter which is operated through a Variac controller, like my grow tent. Those Variac controllers are probably my favorite pieces in my growing arsenal.

 

[Foxhunter]

I also dry in my tent a 4x4 tent I leave everything running but the light,, fan filter,, air circulation fans,, close tent up tight,, check once a day in about five to seven days nicely and evenly dry,, put in half gallon mason jars,, first few days open jars dump nugs out on a cookie sheet let there for ten-fifteen mins back in jars,, nexted days I open and leave sit opened for five minutes last days open once a day move jar around to change the air in the jar

 

[cloudsosmoke]

..You have some nice healthy plants there


I have to wait maybe 3 wks in the jar for green taste to leave

Always dry for a week first (branches hanging inside cardboard box in corner of tent atm)


saw this unusual idea
(Breeder of Strawberry Cough ..so experienced grower)

...He reckons (edited) opening jar is unnecessary - if you get the drying right...but you might have to practice a bit

https://www.themaven.net/theweedblo...your-medical-marijuana-2uEanNBauU2kWLBi7cL_AA

 

[AJrexxx]

I trim down till they are golf ball size put them in brown grocery bags and hang them in the tent above my lights for about a week. Then into jars with Boveda. I don't burp them everyday usually every couple days. After 2-3 weeks the hay smell is gone and you can smell your weed.

 

[bartlancertp]

I dry 4-14 days (usually 7) down to <65% with fan in room but not on buds, then into jars. Open jars daily for 15 min for one month, then once weekly for 15 min for one month, then once monthly for remainder. I detect a definite increase in potency from proper curing. Big buds take special attention, but can be done.

 

[Cheeseman]

Thank you for all the tips. I will be drying them whole this time I think and hang them for around a week at least