I use the bins to slow the dry process down. I’ve seen growers use larger totes and put whole branches in but I prefer smaller bins and buds only. The idea behind it is absolutely to preserve terpenes and hold onto the taste and smell. Using the bins I generally never experience the cut grass smell for more than a day or 2 and the bud aroma bounces back quickly sometimes in a day or so. Technically speaking, you’re not curing until you hit 62ish% but I truly believe their is a grey area that starts around 70%. I also get the advantage of burping a few larger bins everyday rather than multiple jars.
I will caution that this method takes a little getting used to and patience in the beginning. Your ambient relative humidity will play a large role in how you treat the bins. I have to adjust the lids based on season, sometimes, like now, I can leave the lids completely off for 6 hours because the humidity is higher this time of year. In January I generally can only leave the lids open about an inch for 2-3 hours before I need to close them. In higher humidity environments you need to be careful not to leave the lids on too long, in low humidity environments you’re trying thread the needle and not let them dry too much.
It’s worth it for me in the end but it can be a little stressful when I left the lid open and then I get stuck at work.
