Question about drying & curing in a super dry environment (40% RH)

[EhlersChick]

First things first: I'm really grateful to NebulaHaze for creating GWE and this forum - I've learned almost everything I know thanks to you

Now for my dilemma: I live in a little apartment in Montreal, where the heat is provided by and controlled by my landlord - and he pumps the heat full blast from October to April whether we need it or not. In the dead of winter, like when it's minus 26C plus windchill factor it's still 30C in here if I keep the windows closed. It's also super dry, like 40% humidity MAX.

My little grow setup is in my bedroom closet and I'm current on my second grow and don't want to repeat the mistake I made last time. After I had harvested, I hung them to dry in the closet, and in less than 24 hours they were so dry that when I went to gently squeeze them they literally crumbled to powder. I had to sweep green dust off the floor - I was devastated!

So I've been trying to work out how best to slowly dry my second upcoming harvest. I've thought about putting the buds directly into jars but not putting the lids on, but I'm afraid of bud rot. Someone on the grow journal website I've just discovered suggested creating a little cardboard box for them to dry in (like maybe a shoe box?). I would really appreciate all suggestions, keeping in mind that it really is very very dry in here and I have no way to control that.

Here's the last grow I'm referring to: https://growdiaries.com/diaries/2127...t-grow-bagseed

[wheatgrass]

What was the temp and humidity that would make them dry up like that in less than 24 hours. Disclaimer: I am not an expert.

[EhlersChick]

Temperature was about 21C (70F?) and 40% relative humidity.

[9fingerleafs]

I live in a 75-95 humidity and 28-35C all year round. I grow inside my room with the ac on all the time. Temps stay at 23 with 45-50 humidity. Still takes 7-10 days to dry enough to start jarring. I think you shouldn’t have those problems at 40% but anyway. I’ve done the cardboard box before, get a big box and make holes on the sides at different heights so you can pass a string tru and create a “rack” to suspend buds. I hope that was clear haha other option is to make a whole on the top of the box and hang colas upside down inside the box. Pass the branch tru the whole and hold with a Clip or something.

[wheatgrass]

70 degrees is perfect and 40% is not that bad considering 50% is optimum.

[Flyfisher]

leave the plants whole when hanging.Then as they dry cut them up into say 7-10" sticks.lay them down on a big plastic bag.Now you can control how much air flow they get by foldin the bag over and covering them.

[Potted]

Place your buds in paper bags loosely and place in fridg, move around daily it takes some time (slow) but u can jar when u feel it’s dry enough,...with no harm to buds at all!

[EhlersChick]

Thank you friend! This sounds interesting and feasible. The fridge is a contained and controlled environment - I'm going to give this a try. HAHA I suspect I'm going to be surprised every now and again when I open my fridge (I don't have the best memory).

[Potted]

Yup, just playing it forward, anything for the cause. The best part is it works 😎

[PRIMO]

Get a humidifier?

[Redwasp]

Yes a paper sack will work without the fridge too. Just trim the buds, remove stems, place buds in a paper bag with no buds touching, and move them around two or more times a day. They will dry much slower in the bag than by hanging. I do my popcorn bud and trim like that in paper bags. The trim can be touching I just have it about an inch or two thick in the bottom of the bag and shake the bag a few times a day.

[Weed Pharma]

Something must be missing, as I dry in those conditions most of the year. (takes 2-3 days at the soonest and 4-5 days for larger plants).

Did you have a fan blowing on the drying buds?
Did you hold back water into harvest?

[EhlersChick]

I didn't have a fan going - they were hung in the closet where I grew with the doors closed so no real air movement at all. I suspect withholding water may have been a factor - I think I flushed with ice water then waited a week. I'm going to ensure they are well watered before harvesting this second grow AND I'm going to put them in paper in the fridge too. Cheers, friends!