Here...I posted this in another thread before
The purpose of drying is to remove excess moisture content, to prevent the formation of mold during the curing process.
In a perfect/optimal drying environment
Temp: below 70F
RH: 55%-65%
The Why....it's all about Terpenes and Cannabinoid
1. Terpenes start to volatilize at near 70F
2. RH above 65, mold starts to grow/propagate
3. RH below 55, Trichomes becomes brittle(loss of potency)
So when drying we want as much as possible to preserve terpene and potency and to prevent the propagation of mold during storage.
In reality...only very few of us could achieve such an optimal environmental condition. We do what we can do. Basically there's no right answer as to how long should we dry, it all depends on your RH and Temperature.
Practically, you let it dry until it can be smoke without any further process...if you want to.
But...if you want to increase the potency and quality then it's necessary to have the product undergo a 'curing' process.
The Why....it's all about Terpenes and THC/CBG
Once you jar those buds in an airtight container, a chemical process begin, starting with....
1. Oxgen converting to CO2
2. CO2 chemically interacting with the decaying organic material...this process is called Carboxylate (ring a bell? A conjugate base of carboxylic acid)
3 Terpenes are extracted and reabsorbed and spread through out the organic matter
4. THCA is slowly converted to THC (which further degrade to cannabinol)
The whole process overall contribute to a better experience in terms of taste, smell, and potency.
This is why you try to avoid burping hence the necessity of properly dried product.
Believe it or not....entirely up to you
See #1....this is the reason why you guys are losing smell (terpene). If you want to preserve the smell(aside from the hay smell), dry it below 70F and RH no lower than 55 (terpene is in the trichome too).
