Rehydrate with Boveda?

[Clear Haze]

At harvest time we had to make two detrimental choices for space and time. No space for hanging the stems so we clipped the buds and put them on 6 drying racks which were hung in the top of a closet. Then we left them for exactly 14 days while we went on a scheduled trip to Florida. The thought did cross my mind to cancel the vacation to monitor the dry and cure but didn't voice it to my wife. After 2 weeks at 77deg/44% (central AC) we get back home to some really crispy buds. Put them in jars right away with hygrometers and they settle at 44%! I was afraid to sample the smoke because the hard dry would make it harsh and greeny, but it tasted good and was as sticky as any I've ever touched. Burned well in pipe and paper. My little handheld 60-120x microscope arrived yesterday and the trichomes look as dense and healthy as on a dispensary bud. The buds are not very dense...big disappointment. So I ordered some Boveda 72% humidity packets to raise the moisture in a test jar and will try to re-cure slowly and see what happens. Also will try water curing a little. Need to learn exactly what is going on with curing. Is it just time that breaks down the harsher elements or does the moisture leaving the buds carry the harsher stuff away.

 

[insomniaczzz]

Since Boveda 62% is the standard for curing and storing, I would use the 72's but leave the lids off the jars. Another option, leave lid off of jars and put in a closed space with something wet or moist, like a bucket of wet soil. The 72% bovedas you bought are too high for storing the final product.

 

[Clear Haze]

Right. The 72% just for rehydration. Will use the 62% for storage. I will try your suggestion as well. I got 14 quarts to play with.

 

[Gordo41]

When i dont have room to hang them up to dry,, i use a food dehydrator set on air flow no heat, and they dry in a few days.

 

[insomniaczzz]

Really sucks about the timing of your vacation. And not knowing your wife, I think you did the right thing by not suggesting cancelling.

 

[Clear Haze]

Yep. One of those rare cases where I KNOW I did the right thing! She was excited to get back and check on the harvest though. We made a list of lessons learned on this first grow. First item was to plan travel around harvest and cure.

 

[Clear Haze]

Buds only or buds and stems? Must be a pretty big appliance?

 

[Gordo41]

Just buds. I trim right down to the bud.. i also take all the leaves off so its just the bud and even break the big buds down to the size of a thumb nail. Im not trying to impress anyone.

 

[Weed Pharma]

If you have some healthy fan leaves from a current grow- place one or two in each jar overnight. Repeat if needed to get the moisture back into the buds.