Desperate Need Of Some Help

[steveinspain]

Good idea. I also found Boveda bags on Amazon here, they have 62% RH. A bit pricey though. Our RH for September/October is supposedly is 67%, it doesn't feel like that but anyway. I've got a meter on the way and will see what the RH is in that room. Thanks for the advice!

Water AND feed right up to harvest.
The last 2 weeks are building bud density and trichs.
Do not stop the feed !
Flushing at the end is pretty much a waste of time.
Running water thru the soil is not changing anything in the plant.
There are a bunch of opinions but the research and science prove
flushing is broscience.
I have also noticed some damage to trichomes with harvesting thru curing.
Every time we handle the buds I believe we do some damage.
So....at all times ....handle with care.
I did leave some buds attached to a small piece of stem , in 2 bottles.
Those buds appeared to be less damaged AND more potent . IDK !!!!
But , when I harvest the outside girl , I will leave some stems attached

I like to see some amber on the flowers ( the leafs will pop w/ amber first ) , but not a lot.
I harvest in stages. From top first , but wait a few days on lower stuff.
Harvest early morning. Try to be gentle.
I wash my buds using 4 ea , 5 gal buckets.
As I cut a stem from plant , I trim off big leafs and wash and hang !!
Handling by cut end of stem without ever setting the bud group down.
Minimizing damage .
First bucket Full of water and half a cup of hydrogen peroxide .
2cd bucket Full of water w/ 1/2 cup of baking powder & lemon juice.
3rd bucket hot tap water.
4th bucket / PH adjusted well water.
I cut each stem about 8” long , w/ buds attached , but big leafs trimmed off .
I dip 30 times without touching sides or bottoms of bucket and immediately hang to dry
w/ fan blowing directly on them for about 4 hours.
Paper bag and into frig for about a week to 10 days ( Low Slow Dry Meathod )
Be careful , I almost dried one bag to long. Check RH daily.
Once buds are about 68% , I put into open glass jars In the fridge.
This slows down dry but worth the control.
Around 65% I move jars to dark closet w/ 62% Bovida packs and tight lid .
Initially burping twice a day and then once a day.
Once stabilized at 62% of curing in closet , I have placed loose buds into baking / turkey bags and into a 5 gal bucket w/ air tight top . I am keeping some in glass jars in closet. Checking RH and burping occasionally. Also checking turkey bag RH .
Sorry for this long winded answer . Just sharing my take on info picked up here and put

into practice.

Impressive. Really impressive. I'm assuming you're retired, or perhaps semi! As I said before, I feel like I've had my head up my ass! I've really been doing it all wrong. Love the pictorial, very useful, I'll keep you posted. Why do you do the washing? What are the benefits? A good weekend to all

 

[Caeser951]

Why does it makes sense to people that to get the best and most potent buds, you must stop feeding at some point?? This is illogical and defies common sense as well as the examples given every day by mother nature in the wild. Starving your plants at the end has to be counterproductive... why is this so hard for the growing public to understand? Organically grown or naturally grown plants are not "flushed" at the end... and they are known to be the best, tastiest and most powerful plants that we grow, simply because they are fed everything they need, right up to the end.

There are lots of "gurus" out there who insist that you must flush out your plants by starving them at the end or your smoke will be terrible. This is BS. Do not believe most of what you read online these days and very little of what you see on Youtube... there are lots of people spouting BS out here just to make themselves sound important and knowledgeable. If you are believing that you must flush your plants at the end, you have fallen victim to the hype, and I implore you to read further.

I think its probably a disconnect of info too. I’ve noticed my plants get used to the nutrients and grow better after I’ve stopped feeding. But, it’s not sustainable and eventually requires more feeding. I can’t dial it down. So, I just put them on a feeding/water schedule so they’ll get used to it. Also, you’re right about reading and researching. My plants are spoiled and require water every morning or theyll cry and droop real quick.

 

[steveinspain]

That's a pretty rough indicator... very subjective and more than likely you were not in the proper range ... and most likely you got them too dry in a week so the cure didn't even happen and those trichomes dried right up. I would invest in a jar sized hygrometer... I like the Caliber III units. In the drying room, bend the branches and they should snap, but not break... and most of the time this happens in about 3 days. Put them in a jar at this point, and see what RH they settle in at, probably too wet. If so, put them in a paper grocery sack, folded over twice, for another 12 hours. Put them in a jar and check again. Repeat this process until you get them stabilized at 65%RH in the jar. This is when curing will start. Burp them daily... keep that RH between 65 and 59 for as long as you are able.

Hi again, I got a hygrometer and in the room where I'm planning to dry this is the reading, any suggestions to get the RH up?

 

[steveinspain]

Hi again, I got a hygrometer and in the room where I'm planning to dry this is the reading, any suggestions to get the RH up?

Temp seems ok at 73.5 f, humidifier?

 

[013]

Bucket of water, hang a towel into bucket for wicking action and point a fan at the towel. Helps to spread the towel out wide where the fan blows to increase the surface area of the wet towel

 

[SeniorMoments]

Hi again, I got a hygrometer and in the room where I'm planning to dry this is the reading, any suggestions to get the RH up?

I bought a humidifier ( for winter ) and a dehumidifier ( for summer ).
Best solution if money is not the issue.
Make sure your hygrometer is correct. I initially bought some cheap ones that ended up in the trash.
Half a dozen sitting next to each other gave very different readings.

 

[013]

Obviously Senior is correct a humidifier is a much better solution... the bucket of water, fan & towel trick is a zero budget quick fix until humidified can be sourced

 

[steveinspain]

Thanks, I've never used a humidifier before are there special ones that can set a certain RH? What I've seen on Amazon are just fill with water and turn on. Thanks for the replies

 

[SeniorMoments]

Thanks, I've never used a humidifier before are there special ones that can set a certain RH? What I've seen on Amazon are just fill with water and turn on. Thanks for the replies

Yes. I spent about $250 and can set humidity level.

 

[SeniorMoments]

My choice.

 

[steveinspain]

Thanks, yeah I found some that are adjustable.

 

[steveinspain]

My choice.

Thanks for the great before and after photo! And thanks to all who have given me great advice.

 

[SeniorMoments]

Good idea. I also found Boveda bags on Amazon here, they have 62% RH. A bit pricey though. Our RH for September/October is supposedly is 67%, it doesn't feel like that but anyway. I've got a meter on the way and will see what the RH is in that room. Thanks for the advice!

Impressive. Really impressive. I'm assuming you're retired, or perhaps semi! As I said before, I feel like I've had my head up my ass! I've really been doing it all wrong. Love the pictorial, very useful, I'll keep you posted. Why do you do the washing? What are the benefits? A good weekend to all

Yes , I have been retired a couple years and waited till that happened before growing cannabis.
I came across washing buds here on 420 and after this harvest , I will continue with this being part of harvest. Look in the first bucket and see how dirty the water is. I wash my fruit and veggies before cooking so why not my buds ?

 

[steveinspain]

Good point

 

[steveinspain]

Why does it makes sense to people that to get the best and most potent buds, you must stop feeding at some point?? This is illogical and defies common sense as well as the examples given every day by mother nature in the wild. Starving your plants at the end has to be counterproductive... why is this so hard for the growing public to understand? Organically grown or naturally grown plants are not "flushed" at the end... and they are known to be the best, tastiest and most powerful plants that we grow, simply because they are fed everything they need, right up to the end.

There are lots of "gurus" out there who insist that you must flush out your plants by starving them at the end or your smoke will be terrible. This is BS. Do not believe most of what you read online these days and very little of what you see on Youtube... there are lots of people spouting BS out here just to make themselves sound important and knowledgeable. If you are believing that you must flush your plants at the end, you have fallen victim to the hype, and I implore you to read further.

Hi again, some of my leaves are developing a purple hue. I've read it could be the lower temps at night. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[steveinspain]

Hi again, some of my leaves are developing a purple hue. I've read it could be the lower temps at night. Any suggestions? Thanks

 

[steveinspain]

Overall they seem pretty happy and I believe I'm a week or so away from harvest.

 

[Emilya Green]

I believe you are seeing natural fall time colors in your leaves. They do look happy, and I don't believe that this is a problem.

 

[steveinspain]

I believe you are seeing natural fall time colors in your leaves. They do look happy, and I don't believe that this is a problem.

Thanks for that

 

[steveinspain]

That's a pretty rough indicator... very subjective and more than likely you were not in the proper range ... and most likely you got them too dry in a week so the cure didn't even happen and those trichomes dried right up. I would invest in a jar sized hygrometer... I like the Caliber III units. In the drying room, bend the branches and they should snap, but not break... and most of the time this happens in about 3 days. Put them in a jar at this point, and see what RH they settle in at, probably too wet. If so, put them in a paper grocery sack, folded over twice, for another 12 hours. Put them in a jar and check again. Repeat this process until you get them stabilized at 65%RH in the jar. This is when curing will start. Burp them daily... keep that RH between 65 and 59 for as long as you are able.

Hi again, finished drying and just trimming a bit before I start the cure. While the buds were still on the plant some of them, especially the top, felt a bit hard and crunchy. I'm wondering if you possible know why. It's kind of like they're 'freeze dried' Here are a few photos. I would appreciate if you could have a look and I welcome your feedback.