Want Bag Appeal? Curing Matters

MrFishy said:

Personally, I wouldn't freeze anything that wasn't going to be processed into hash or something requiring really dry bud. I know folks do it, but have always felt it dries the weed too much, at least for my taste. Of course, it'd be preferable to mold, if a grower is too busy (or lame) to ensure his harvest is safe in storage.

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MrFishy is right. Ever hear of freeze drying? Putting your buds in the freezer is likely to dehydrate them severely, good smokable weed shuould have a small amount of moisture in it or it should be be allowed to very SLOWLY dry in jars. Freezing your buds will make to TOO dry.

happyface said:

so cure in the fridge OR NOT???????

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NOT!!! Once your buds are in the jars to cure they should be left in an area that is cool (60-70 degrees F) and dark. You should never store your weed, whether it's drying, curing, or simply being stored anywhere it can be exposed to extreme temperatures (room temp between 60-70 is perfect) or anywhere it will be exposed to excessive sunlight; in fact the best place is somewhere dark like a closet or drawer.

roxistar said:

MrFishy is right. Ever hear of freeze drying? Putting your buds in the freezer is likely to dehydrate them severely, good smokable weed shuould have a small amount of moisture in it or it should be be allowed to very SLOWLY dry in jars. Freezing your buds will make to TOO dry.



NOT!!! Once your buds are in the jars to cure they should be left in an area that is cool (60-70 degrees F) and dark. You should never store your weed, whether it's drying, curing, or simply being stored anywhere it can be exposed to extreme temperatures (room temp between 60-70 is perfect) or anywhere it will be exposed to excessive sunlight; in fact the best place is somewhere dark like a closet or drawer.

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Cool thanks bro.

MrFishy said:

The buds in the jar need to be at least slightly moist or nothing is really happening. If you over dried them during the hang, you may be able to activate cure by adding a few fresh pot leaves to the jar for 12-24 hours, then cure as prescribed, ie:mostly closed jar, breathed daily at least once.
Some report success by simply misting the dried buds, then placing them back in the jar(s) and finishing as planned.

Not sure what you mean by "too late for curing" but there's no time limit on how long a grower can cure. Mine take about a month, after jarring, to reduce to the 10-15% humidity desired in the finished product.

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i meant if i have to rehydrate well it restart the curing process and does the curing stop if the buds are to dry also does re hydrating hurt the curing of the buds thanks

twosaws said:

i meant if i have to rehydrate well it restart the curing process and does the curing stop if the buds are to dry also does re hydrating hurt the curing of the buds thanks

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If the buds were totally dry to start with they were not in the process of curing. You can try to rehydrate and then start curing after than

fucking great post brother!!!!!!

Curing Facts and Tips

Curing is the long-term drying and storage of your buds after harvest.

Curing is preferred by connoisers; it smoothes the smoke and increases the potency, taste, and smell of your buds.

The best method for curing buds is using glass containers; glass does not retain or absorb THC from the dried buds like paper or plastic does.

Mason or canning jars with the rubber seals and metal rings are the best choice for curing and storage.

Be sure the jars and lids you use are very clean (sanitize them) and very dry before you use them for curing, even a tiny amount of water left in the jars is enough to cause mold. Mold is you enemy!!

After you are done drying your buds, fill the jars loosely with your dried buds. Don't pack/stuff your buds into the jars, overfilling is likely to cause mold.

Store the jars in a cool (60-70 F), dark, dry place like a closet or drawer. Take the jars out daily and remove the lids for 30-90 minutes at a time depending on the moisture content. Turn the jars so that the buds are repositioned inside or you can even dump the buds out and put them back in if they won't move much by turning.

The standard minimum curing time is 2 weeks. Some people will cure their buds for much longer periods, it depends on the person, the strain you have, the moisture content, and the buds density. You should at least cure for 2 weeks.

You can taste-test your curing buds weekly. This will help you determine the point at which you are satisfied with the cure.

Once your buds are cured to your satisfaction you can vacuum-seal the jars, or if you don;t have access to a sealer just be sure to tighten the lids down good. Store your jars in your cool (60-70 F), dark, dry place.

There was a link provided here for a sealer that works with jars and bags. It's in this thread.

Hey Roxi! Nice post. I use pretty much the same method. How long do you think buds will last in the jars? I have some nice FST Grapefruit coming up on one year in the jars. All are gold, can't smoke it fast enough so I guess there will be some christmas presents of the smokeable type this year.

NOT!!! Once your buds are in the jars to cure they should be left in an area that is cool (60-70 degrees F) and dark. You should never store your weed, whether it's drying, curing, or simply being stored anywhere it can be exposed to extreme temperatures (room temp between 60-70 is perfect) or anywhere it will be exposed to excessive sunlight; in fact the best place is somewhere dark like a closet or drawer.

REP for you, GREAT THREAD, PRECISE and very accurate.
Curing makes a world of difference! in taste and potency.
I have buds two years old still in jars and they are just as good as they were two years ago.

great info roxi il be following your steps

thanks roxistar very helpful but how moist should the buds when you put them in the jars should they be dry enough to smoke or should it be moist enough when you pinch it that it sticks together thanks for replies

twosaws said:

thanks roxistar very helpful but how moist should the buds when you put them in the jars should they be dry enough to smoke or should it be moist enough when you pinch it that it sticks together thanks for replies

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They should be fully smokable, but still slightly moist in the middle. They shouldn't be so dry that if you pinch one between your fingers it crumbles or breaks up. They should feel dry to the touch on the outside (slightly crisp, should not crumble or break though) but still slightly moist in the middle.

Hope that helps twosaws. It's so hard to tell someone when it's ready since everyone's conditions are slightly different. Once you do it right a couple times, you'll be an expert; you'll be able to tell just by the look and feel of the buds.

Just be sure to check your jars daily, even 2x a day the first few days to ensure no mold is growing. If you notice mold or an ammonia smell take them out of the jars ASAP and leave them out for a day or so.

roxistar said:

They should be fully smokable, but still slightly moist in the middle. They shouldn't be so dry that if you pinch one between your fingers it crumbles or breaks up. They should feel dry to the touch on the outside (slightly crisp, should not crumble or break though) but still slightly moist in the middle.

Hope that helps twosaws. It's so hard to tell someone when it's ready since everyone's conditions are slightly different. Once you do it right a couple times, you'll be an expert; you'll be able to tell just by the look and feel of the buds.

Just be sure to check your jars daily, even 2x a day the first few days to ensure no mold is growing. If you notice mold or an ammonia smell take them out of the jars ASAP and leave them out for a day or so.

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dude that helps ALOT......thanks. well i was wondering about the smell of it the first week.it freakin weird.dont smell grassy an dont smell dank.just a strong smell of something.is this normal?

happyface said:

dude that helps ALOT......thanks. well i was wondering about the smell of it the first week.it freakin weird.dont smell grassy an dont smell dank.just a strong smell of something.is this normal?

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Can you describe the smell? It's not like ammonia is it?

roxistar said:

Can you describe the smell? It's not like ammonia is it?

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Naw not ammonia. its hard to describe. i think its like i guess a freash cut smell. its just very strong.i just took all the buds out an checked them over.they seem okay.i just cant wait for that dank smell.

an im growing White Widow and Master Kush. do you have ANY idea on how long these strains take to cure?????? and also wen you fill ur jar do push it down or do you leave it loose. well sorry bout all the questions.this is my very first grow an CURE.thanks and happy growings

happyface said:

Naw not ammonia. its hard to describe. i think its like i guess a freash cut smell. its just very strong.i just took all the buds out an checked them over.they seem okay.i just cant wait for that dank smell.

an im growing White Widow and Master Kush. do you have ANY idea on how long these strains take to cure?????? and also wen you fill ur jar do push it down or do you leave it loose. well sorry bout all the questions.this is my very first grow an CURE.thanks and happy growings

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The denser the buds the longer they will take to cure. I'd say expect 2-3 weeks. You want to loosley fill the jar, definitely don't jamm them in there. You want enough room so that you can turn the jar and the buds will move around. Here's a good idea of where to fill them to,

thanks bro i will rearrange immediately.

Wow this post has been a huge help, so I'd first like to thank you for that.

One question i do have though is regarding the mold, i am amidst my first grow and tend to be a worrier... anyway to the question; what if mold does start occuring? How can you rid of it. I noticed you said to remove it from the jars if you see any signs, but what if they start molding even before you jar them ( in the paper bag )? Also will mold damage the bud or effect its final smoke? I apologize in advance if these are 'noob' questions o.0

Good post. I've never tried this method, but will. Does mine look cured properly to you?
I go to jar when you go to bag? I think yours might save me some hassles (burp burp burp burp) and other concerns.
When complete, how's/what's the texture of the insides? Mine are leathery and pliable for months, if stored at all properly. Ya almost have to use scissors, and even then, they're spro-i-n-g-y . . . in a good way.
Buds light/stay lit fine, but don't keep burnin' when idle.
Very gooey, even dry.
Got any close-ups of the un-cured batch already posted?
Rep . . . must've already hit ya, oops.

great thread.. you have all props. So I hang my buds up to dry...then put them into paper bags before curing??? why? If they are dry they go to jar which distributes the moister right??

excellent thread! i have a question about those pump-n-seal jars. can you use the pump to cure/burp the bud or is the pump-n-seal used just to store already cured buds?