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I've read (well, skimmed, really) a couple books on growing at the library, and each book has said that curing your bud is very important before smoking, but neither book really went into much detail.

I'm curious, why is curing done, how is curing done, and how does it affect your bud?

i'm sure someone else with better and more info will chime in but my short answer is;

curing basically make the smoke better in most aspects. Taste improves, smell improves, smoothness of smoke improves. Takes place by storing fresh nugs in airtight containers for a few days to a few weeks.

Kinda like wine being stored in barrels for years.

Yeah man the whole purpose of curing is to let the moisture out of your bud slowly and more importantly evenly!

There are various chemical processes that continue onceyou have slashed your plants. The slow drying or curing process ensures that all the chemicals break down properly and make your weed taste and smoke better. Flash drying tends to leave a lot of the chemicals such as chlorophyl etc. in the weed which is why badly cured weed can taste "green"when smoked.

Best bet is air tight jars mate. Pack the jar about 70% full and screw the lid on...you should then open the jar for approx 1 hour every day for the moisture to balance out. The jar method creates a micro environment where by there is only so much air into which the moisture can go. The moisture in the bud and the air in the jar balances out over the course of the day, when you open the jar you let out a small amount of moisture and the process starts again. This means that the bud also drys very evenly and slowly. Be very careful not to allow a build up condensation as this may lead to mouldy buds and we dont want that now do we.

Always store your jars in a cool dark place as sunlight can reduce the amount of THC in your buds. I have a stunning article on this at home but I am in Greece at the minute. Let me know if you need more info and when I get back I can help more. The above is from memory and a basic understanding.

I read this guide

http://boards.cannabis.com/showthread.php?t=60954

and it seems like some really good information, but online guides and tutorials are notoriously inaccurate, so anyone who's read a good book or two, is that all up to snuff?

Well, I have read quite a few books, and it's funny, but I do not recall any of them discussing this subject. So, I read the threads you have found, and the slow method using the 70% full glass jars makes sense to me.

I hope someone with more experience or technical background jumps in with some thoughts, but in the meantime, I think you are on the right trails.

I asked about books in a thread down below, but, boo hoo - no replies. I would like to get some updated reference materials, but I may have to wait until I can get to The Netherlands.

Good luck!

Basically 3 things to do to insure good tasty smoke:

1. Cut off all fan or very large leaves. Cut down whole plant and hang in dark place 3 or 4 days, depending on climate. A small fan to help circulate is a plus.

2. Trim off excess leaf and cut bud away from main branches. Buy brown paper bags, (small lunch bags will do) and fill bags 1 to 2 inches lightly with your bud. Fold the top over 2 or 3 times and store in a cool dark place. Everyday open the bags and lightly fluff your bud, being carefull not to knock off any tricomes. A week or two of this, again depending on your climate, then it's onto the jars.

3. Mason Jars or any jar that will give you something that's airtight will do. Carefully transfer your bud from the bags into your jars. Again don't packed to much bud in the jars, give yourself room for air. Now for the next 2 weeks or so, open your jars everyday, and leave the lid off while you open the remainder of the jars, then go back with the first one and close them back up. Smell your bud as you open your jars, this will help tell you if the plant is curing properly or not. If your bud smells to green, go back to step #2. When a branch "snaps" when you break it, your herb is ready to smoke. Seal of the jars tightly, and your good to go.

Four to six weeks of curing is good, to bring out the best of your herb, but who can wait that long. Hope that helps, AzLaker

Well I'm not planning to mount a massive operation, you know, growing fifty plants at once, marking and selling them, nahh.

I just hope to build a little grow cabinet and harvest every week or so. You know, while one clone is germinating, one is vegetating. Another is a week into vegetation, four are 1 week apart in the flowering stage, 4 are 1 week apart into drying, 4 are one week apart into curing.

I know the times are completely dependant on the strain, but I think it would work out phenominally if I had a couple plants growing for each 1 week period of development, so I'll have fresh smokable bud every week. =P And if I wind up with more than I need every week, I'll just sell it. =P Especially since most of the stuff available around here is pretty bland. People would be lining up for some Northern Lights or White Widow.

But, I don't want to become a drug dealer, no matter what the demand is. =/ I jsut don't want to spend so much money on pot all the time.

you are gonna need more than a small grow cabinet if u wanna harvest every week mate sad 2 say. You can do it the way u say but it means an awful lot of work and time consuming. Good luck mate my freinds believe you cant go wrong purchasing a copy of jorge cervantes indoor bible. A book none of them would have done without as beginers.
Once up and running mate it would be good 2 have a wee commentry on their progress and maybe a few pics 2 if poss.

Peace.

Well I've never grown, so I'm just talking out my ass, but it certainly would be nice to have a small harvest weekly. =)

I just hang up the buds on fishing line on mt closet rack until they get crunchy and put them into a bag and the moistness evens out, the bigger/thicker the buds are the longer it will take

den wrote:you are gonna need more than a small grow cabinet if u wanna harvest every week mate sad 2 say. You can do it the way u say but it means an awful lot of work and time consuming. Good luck mate my freinds believe you cant go wrong purchasing a copy of jorge cervantes indoor bible. A book none of them would have done without as beginers.
Once up and running mate it would be good 2 have a wee commentry on their progress and maybe a few pics 2 if poss.

Peace.

Is the Jorge C book you mentioned above called "Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible" ? Cos i can get that here in S.A.........If its any good, im keen to get it. I never really buy any "grow tip" books cos' they all refer to climates in the US or such. As im living in Africa i reckon we have a damn good climate for growing outdoors. As im "slightly retarded" when it comes to growing...any assistance would be great. Anyone else who can recommend the above book??

I smoked some bud the other day at the Polinator company that had been curing in a sealed jar for just over 4 months. It was so smooth and sweet. White Rhino it was. Lekker!!!!

mh

curing is personal preference,my preference is CURE you,ll be amazed by results,try puttin into GLASS jar then leave sealed in cool dry dark place for 1 week open for 1-2hrs then close for 1 more week,then enjoy at will . ps,do not cram buds into jar as after week you want to turn them so space is essential for buds to sweat/breath and moving

hell try a month...heheheh...itll be a taste bud party...longer the better..no heat , darkness,takes time and work for a perpetual harvest but believe me its worth it....you ,in the long run, will save tons of money...