Curing RH

[Timmeeeh]

Here's a theory question, which has been on my mind:

What is so "magical" about curing in glass jars?

If it was possible to maintain my drying room RH solidly between 59% and 62%, why wouldn't my nugs dry and cure just fine in the open air?

I'm not trying to reinvent the wheel. I'm not suggesting I've found a better way. I'm simply puzzled as to why the humidity in a jar is more critical to the curing process than the humidity in the room.

This is nothing more than simple curiosity. I've searched, but I've never found an answer.

Any ideas?

Best regards

[OldManGrower]

While I don't know the exact answer to your question I have some ideas. Curing of tobacco, especially pipe and cigar is a normal part of manufacturing that product and the methods they use are very exacting. I think the curing process for weed involves not only temperature and humidity but a concentration and mingling of the various esters and terpenes. Sort of like the soup, chili, stew etc. seems to taste better the next day do to the mingling of the ingredients over time. In an open room, these would dissipate into the larger area and you would lose the benefit, sort of like adding water to the soup.

[Timmeeeh]

I like the analogy - comparing the mingling of the terpins & co. to chili or stew. I'm sold. Thanks for easing my curiosity!

[Allotrope1000]

Hi, Timm.
Very interesting question. My thoughts mirror OldMan's, above. Also, glass jars don't emit micro levels of chemicals like plastic, and make a good storage container for trimmed buds.
I ask where are you going to store the trimmed bud? You have to put it in something. If using glass containers, it is logical to cure them in same.
I have LOTS excess harvest. I put up 1-2 glass jars of best bud from each strain for pre-rolls and pipe filling. The rest and trim goes for dry ice hash or RSO, which I feel does not need a fancy cure.

If you like your results, keep doing it. Maybe try curing in a couple jars to compare with your "room-cured" smoke.

[Timmeeeh]

I get the reasons why I shouldn't use plastic. I cure and store exclusively using mason jars and burping religiously. I never had any intention of changing a time-worn tradition. I was just curious why they wouldn't cure properly if they were simply left open in a 60/60 atmosphere (basically as bboyfromwayback described below. Although I realize he is simply delaying his cure, not substituting for the cure). Thanks for your reply

[Bluey]

The curing process also limits oxygen. It changes in the jar from aerobic to anaerobic conditions as part of the burping process and limits bacterial activity.

[bboyfromwayback]

There’s actually a chemical breakdown that occurs by placing the buds in airtight containers then ‘burping’ them to allow fresh air in. I don’t know the scientific process of it but you can look it up on the GWE site, Nebula covers it pretty well.

I did watch a guy on YouTube talk about harvesting a while back covering the topic of keeping your room at the right temperature and humidity. Since then, as long as my drying tent is in the 60’s for both temperature and humidity I get in no hurry to trim. I let my buds hang at least 14days after harvesting and then I trim when I can. Ive noticed no difference whether it takes a day or a month to get the whole plant into jars. Once cured the smoke is the same