Cannibas Drying Methodologies

[Tremojem]

I am asking everyone how they dry their harvests.

One methodology proposes you weigh the hanging plant and record it's total hang weight. Depending on what you read online, you would then multiply the total weight of the plant by, anywhere from, .20 to .28 and the sum is your target dry weight.

Another methodology is to measure the moisture of the plant, using a moisture meter. Many of these devices are available and the online concensus is to set the meter to the "Wood" setting, and take a sample at the stalk, or directly into a bud, or both. These moisture meters are equipped with two prongs that stab into the material you are measuring. The online consensus is anywhere between 9 and 12 for a target measurement. Once you reach that level of moisture, you trim and start the Cure.

So, what are you doing and how?

 

[Bandit420]

I dry several ways and have read about the moisture meter. Never heard of the weight method.
I've always just used snap and smoke.
If it can snap off the branch then it's time for the smoke test. If it smokes good and burns properly, then it's ready for cure.

 

[Tremojem]

Hey, don't knock it.

It's a proven methodology.

It works for me. And I will continue to use it in concert with the new methods, as I experiment with them.

 

[Bandit420]

Hey, don't knock it.

It's a proven methodology.

It works for me. And I will continue to use it in concert with the new methods, as I experiment with them.

Not sure how I "knocked" anything you do. Happy you found something that works well for you

 

[Tremojem]

Bandit, my apologies. Didn't word that correctly.

I support it. What I tried to say was...hey don't knock the snap method. I use it and it is proven to work. I will keep using the snap method while I experiment with the 2 new methods.

Instead, what I wrote came off like this...hey don't knock my 2 new proven methods. Your snap method is whatever.

That is NOT what I meant.

Please accept my apologies Bandit420

 

[TomH]

I use mostly what bandit does, I only apply the wood moisture meter after a little while in the jars to make sure they aren’t rising in RH.

 

[moe.red]

This is an area I can improve upon, and plan to with the next harvest.

I like the idea behind a cannatol, just not the limited space and price tag.

I have been drying in a temp/rh controlled tent for years. Then jar them up in 2.5 gallon glass jars for cure with boveda. I recently found mold in one of my older jars. Alarm bells going off.

So following to see what ideas come up. There are a few creative projects going on here by a few members. Hopefully they post results.

 

[Pipecarver]

I am asking everyone how they dry their harvests.

One methodology proposes you weigh the hanging plant and record it's total hang weight. Depending on what you read online, you would then multiply the total weight of the plant by, anywhere from, .20 to .28 and the sum is your target dry weight.

Another methodology is to measure the moisture of the plant, using a moisture meter. Many of these devices are available and the online concensus is to set the meter to the "Wood" setting, and take a sample at the stalk, or directly into a bud, or both. These moisture meters are equipped with two prongs that stab into the material you are measuring. The online consensus is anywhere between 9 and 12 for a target measurement. Once you reach that level of moisture, you trim and start the Cure.

So, what are you doing and how?

I over dry the sht out of mine. it can turn to dust sometimes if I don't strip buds off whole. Into Grove bags with 62% humidity packs. The more the merrier, up to 4 size 67 boveda or boost integra in 1/4 lb bags. After 2-3 weeks its nice easy smoke, bag smells great., buds bust up nicely. I may lose some taste and smell by over drying but it doesn't mold and I smoke it all.

My method needs work, I need a machine? I priced out the copper & fittings, about $100 so not bad to play with. I don't solder without burning myself once or twice, I need practice and I like playing with fire so a bonus project is in the works.

 

[Pipecarver]

I over dry the sht out of mine. it can turn to dust sometimes if I don't strip buds off whole. Into Grove bags with 62% humidity packs. The more the merrier, up to 4 size 67 boveda or boost integra in 1/4 lb bags. After 2-3 weeks its nice easy smoke, bag smells great., buds bust up nicely. I may lose some taste and smell by over drying but it doesn't mold and I smoke it all.

My method needs work, I need a machine? I priced out the copper & fittings, about $100 so not bad to play with. I don't solder without burning myself once or twice, I need practice and I like playing with fire so a bonus project is in the works.

Then again instead of trying to make a chiller I think I could cut 2 holes in the lid, one intake and one exhaust with ducts running to and from my dry box, 2 small fans circulating on a thermostat. I could try to get it for $60...hmmm

• Condition
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[Tremojem]

Okay, so as mentioned earlier...I have a Moisture Meter.

Pin-Type LCD Moisture Meter

The Pin-Type LCD Moisture Meter is ideal for use in woodworking, building construction, home inspection, lumber selection and water damage restoration.

generaltools.com

And a Weight Scale.

Etekcity Digital Hanging Scale

Accurately weigh items up to 110 lb / 50 kg with the Etekcity Digital Hanging Scale. The stainless steel hook and LCD display make it easy to get accurate results.

etekcity.com

Started the Dry today. Gotta get my temperature down. Working on it lol.

I will monitor and report.

 

[BlueCollarBob]

Okay, so as mentioned earlier...I have a Moisture Meter.

Pin-Type LCD Moisture Meter

The Pin-Type LCD Moisture Meter is ideal for use in woodworking, building construction, home inspection, lumber selection and water damage restoration.

generaltools.com

And a Weight Scale.

Etekcity Digital Hanging Scale

Accurately weigh items up to 110 lb / 50 kg with the Etekcity Digital Hanging Scale. The stainless steel hook and LCD display make it easy to get accurate results.

etekcity.com

Started the Dry today. Gotta get my temperature down. Working on it lol.

I will monitor and report.

I dried and cured my first ever grow, last Fall. So, not wealth of experience. I followed recommendations from @Stoneyluv to target relative humidity a dew point of 54℉ for 4-7 days and drop to target 52℉ DP for the cure. I was able to come pretty close to that controlling temperature and humidity in a tent in my basement, as the conditions weren't far out of range to begin with. It worked so well, I don't have plans to change anything. Your perfectly inline with those numbers. Like dead on:


I'll bet your gonna end up with a great smoke.

How much are you wanting to lower temperature?

Here's some targets @Aqua Man shared with some cooler temps and target range for moisture content (I see you have a moisture meter. I didn't/don't, yet):

I like 60-65f 55-60% rh air movement but not against the buds.

First 3 days 70F and 40-50% Rh to dry the outside and then nice and slow 60-65F and 55-60% Rh until you get the moisture content of the bud between 57-61%

It all depends on the size of the buds but usually around 14 days. Even at 14 days it should be good to go into groves.

The key is always moisture going out not into the buds that what is likely to cause mold.

Then into grove bags to finish curing after 7 day min up to 14 better and past that not much difference of a dry. That allows the breakdown of sugars and starches to be completed. Curing for at least a month makes for really good smoke beyond that i don’t find to much of a benefit.

It'll be interesting to see where you land on weight and moisture content. I'm sure I'll be learning a lot.

 

[SweetLeafGrow]

Great post and glad to have you aboard Bob!

Thanks for your support of Bud Builders!

 

[Tremojem]

Thanks Bob.

It will be fun for sure.

Hope to have a nice slow dry.

 

[BlueCollarBob]

Great post and glad to have you aboard Bob!

Thanks for your support of Bud Builders!

I don't know about contributing. I'm more like a leech trying to digest the knowledge and experience you guys so generously share on here. Hope you're doing well and have figured out what was contaminating the water in your RO tank, reservoir or wherever it was originating from.

 

[Tremojem]

Update...It's been almost a week.

Here is the weight at time of harvest.

Here is the weight today.

The Moisture Meter reading was 14, at the biggest bud.

Lots to learn here. The stems (snap test) are about 50% dryer, but that is just my limited experience talking. Buds are dryer too...see above. My estimate is that they should be ready in another seven days, but I am just guessing.

I'll keep updating as the dry progresses.

 

[Tremojem]

Okay, here is update, 10 days in.

Starting Tuesday I slowly reduced the RH from 60% to 56%. My temperature has risen from 60F to 62F.

I will try to maintain these parameters for the remaining days until ready to trim and throw in Terploc bags.



Above is the current weight.

Below are various readings from two plants, using two buds, and a stalk reading, taken at thickest part of plant, which is basically useless lol.





There was one more image, but it was only another measurement with the same reading, which indicates some consistency in taking the measurements. The accuracy of the the Moisture Meter is only as good as the user taking the measurements and the materials being measured.

When using the meter to measure identical materials such as sheet rock, it is accurate because of the reliability of the meter to measure and compare are manageable because there is repeatability in the material and method.

Measuring a bud where no two buds are the same, makes this difficult at best. Repeatability is kinda out the window.

But, this is only a guide and when used in concert with other tools, is a good way to get a clue as to where you are in the drying period. I would tend to think a measurement at the stalk would be more reliable as it is a non-destructive test and stalks are more like sheet rock in that you can easily get a good conductive test point, but no two stalks are the same. Thickness in stalks are greatly varied as well, but the mechanical connection is solid for sure, when compared to a bud.

Having said that, there is still flexibility in the stems. No snap. That all correlates with the weight and moisture readings.

I'll keep posting.

 

[Tremojem]

Today was crazy!



I didn't reach my target weight per scale.

No stems snapped, at least not a big snap.

Moisture Meter read 9!?

So, this kinda blew up my study. Not one of the above methods worked this time. But, the buds were ready to be dry trimmed and placed in Terploc Grove Bags.

I maintained a 60F with 60% RH for 10 days. On the 10th day I started slowly dropping RH until I reached 55%RH. That took about two days. It's day 15 and the buds were ready.

I'm kinda deflated. I was hoping for a better result, that would support these methods. It may be that reducing the humidity was not a good idea, and I should have stayed the course.

So, I will keep trying. So odd that I got no real snap. Confused over the weight scale...but ehhh. The Moisture Meter was always suspect, but I was excited about trying it.

In short, buds smell great and hopefully I didn't screw up my dry.

The reason I trimmed and started cureing is because they were a little crispy with dense buds that had a little slight spring to them. Just felt right to start the cure.

I'm still kinda a newbie so just trying to learn and improve while sharing knowledge.

Thanks for reading and contributing.