Moisture content of harvested buds

[VietVet72]

Just wanted to know if anyone knows what the moisture content of freshly harvested buds?? Reason I ask is that when you cure, the internal rH should be around 62 percent, which seems high. If you dry too long trying to add moisture may be too late.
Would it be better to only dry less time and allow the buds to stabilize during curing? Ambient rH/temp would be a factor as well. I live in the desert SW and the rH hovers around 12percent. If I dry beyond 2 days the buds shrivel up. Hopefully this makes sense either that or I'm too buzzed and over thinking??

[kingfish]

I live in Montana The RH dips into single digit sometimes. If you are concerned about your buds drying too fast. Water the crap out of your plants just before harvest. That will extend the drying time. Also if you have a fan blowing in your drying area. Aim it away from the buds.

[VietVet72]

Good idea, I have one that should be ready in about 2weeks, I'll try a thorough soaking to add moisture. Yes I do have the fan set so it's not hitting the buds. Thanks from New Mexico!!

[Royal Nugs]

My humidity drops into the 30's in winter in my basement (grow area). I had to fill up a 5 gallon bucket and set up a towel wick. So you hang your towel like you would on a towel rack but you have the towel ends sitting in the bucket of water. Make sure to keep the ends of the towel (couple inches) in the water completely. Set up a fan to blow on the towel. Keep an eye on the bucket levels because in such a dry climate it won't take long for the water to evaporate.

Hope this helps!

[kingfish]

I have a humidifier going right now. I have to walk a fine line because I have flowering and vegging going on in the same room. Fortunately the flowering is in a tent and the HPS lights keep it pretty dry in there.

[VietVet72]

Great ideas, it's interesting how much there truly is in raising successful harvests, then the balancing act between correct drying/curing. Growing truly is addictive, but at anytime one slip up can be devastating. Quite the challenge, especially when you're unable to have the perfect setup with all the expensive equipment, nutrients, atmospheric conditions.

[Sonnyhad]

I haven't had to worry about dry humidity yet, this winter in Jan and Feb could prove different but for now nope. But the moisture content in the buds after drying should be below 70 percent but might be a little more. I think you want them to cure a good 3 or 4 weeks in the jar and not below 62% or you'll need those little humidor paks. It might be a try and see thing with such low humidity. Might have to put em in the jar only a couple days of chopping them down. Then you have to watch for mold! I would definitely want one of those hygrometers in the jar!

[VietVet72]

The humidity here is so terribly low. Even with added moisture, bowls of water in the closet with fan blowing over the water but not the buds. I had to jar up the buds because they were so dry on the outside, and that's even with the stems still bendable not snapping. My total drying time was too short from Sun afternoon to jarring this Tuesday morning. Don't have a hygrometer or Boveda packs so I'll just open the jars each day to air them out briefly.

This first grow has been a nightmare for me with just about every screw up and pest. If you want to know how not to grow correctly I know it all now, LOL. At least I still got a small harvest, just have a lot of notes for a better second grow.

[Karlee]

The first grow is learning what happens , I thought for sure I'd wear the zipper out of my tent that first grow. I just learned make it all easy. PH for me was important the plants take in everything your giving them faster if the PH is in the grow zone. Good luck and you have help here when needed now. :-)

[VietVet72]

You're so correct Carlsoti, pH is so critical just as light. I didn't check pH at the beginning of my grow and one of my Short Riders lagged behind with all yellow leaves, what few there were. Being a new grower I thought it might be the genetics.
But then I saw a photo of the exact same plant by Nebula, who explained it as either pH lockout or iron deficiency. I got a cool pH, lumen, moisture meter from Lowe's and discovered my soil and tap water was 8.0 pH, high alkaline. So high I had to use 3/4tsp of pH Down for 32oz of water.