Harvesting and Curing Questions

[harrica]

Hello Friends,

First time grow. Got a pretty good setup, decent genetics, everything is generally alright. My questions have to do with the last and final stages of this wonderful process.

1.) I have heard that it is a good idea to give your plants no light the final week before harvest....is this commonly practiced? I was told it helped to produce more trichs. Also should I stop watering the last week, so that the plants are more dry at harvest, thus not needing as much time to dry?

2.) Can you have great genetics and fuck up the drying and curing and than be left with mediocre weed?

3.) I harvest one plant pre-maturely (I feel victim like all the rest before me) and dry it in a dark closet for about 6 days and than place the buds into a brown bag for a couple of days. Now they are in airtight plastic canisters. How long until they get sticky again and like the good 50 and eight kind of chronic. We I placed them into the brown bag they were really dry brillte to the touch almost....was that too dry...I am nervous that we I go to harvest the rest of my plants I will be left with shity weed.

4.) I have been using bloom enhancers ( Cha Ching ) should I use this all the way up until harvest.... I should stop a week before right......


I appreciate all the help and hope that these question my help anyone else who is actively growing...

cah

[midwestbluntman]

1.this is totally up to you,ive done it both ways with little diffrence if any.I grow hydro so ive never not watered the last week.however it doesnt sound like sound advise.

2.yes,every aspect of your grow effects the final product.

3.I think you will be fine just remember to burp the container a time or two a day to help prevent mold.


4.I would stop feeding them all together for the last 10 to 14 days.just plain water.

[StoninStanley]

the last week or 2 of flower is very very important for potency. you cut a premature plant so it wont be as potent as it could be. dont know about others, but my plants have always gotten most of their potency in the last weeks.

hope this helps

[harrica]

Hey thanks guys for answering. I kind of figured that I was just over reacting. It is just a scary thought to think that I would waste all this time and money and just be left with mid-grade kind of bud..........after my first grow I am sure that all the stupid, nervous question will subside.......


mad love to all my green friends

cah

[CB]

dont know about others, but my plants have always gotten most of their potency in the last weeks.



same here :)

first time grows are just like have'n your first kid :eek:

best tool we have is the P (patience) tool ;)

to answer you questions....

1. no this not commonly practiced.. some strains will trich up with 3-4 days of darkness some wont...

2. yes you can... give this a read CLICK (http://www.cannabisculture.com/backissues/cc10/cure.html)

3. back to the P tool :p cut the plant by how you want the high and keep tabs on the % of amber trichs for what you want...

4. I dont use cha ching but love the basic foxfarms products :D I flush at least 7 days before harvest no matter what I use :)

got some pics of the girls :D

grow on

[Sticky_Budz]

the last week or 2 of flower is very very important for potency. you cut a premature plant so it wont be as potent as it could be. dont know about others, but my plants have always gotten most of their potency in the last weeks.

hope this helps
Same here too:D

[Mr. Bud]

How did your grow end up?? I'm pretty sure you have cut by now, if not your in trouble... lol..

I've been out of the loop for a little while so this is a late reply. My first grow I stopped watering a week before I cut and the buds dried out faster and I wasn't as freaked out about the possible mold. My last grow I went right up until I cut, wouldn't recommend it; I had some mold problems. I think it is better to stop a week before..

I stop giving nuts about 10 days before cutting. For the last two waterings I have found that you can put molasys in the water at about two table spoons per gallon. This keeps the plant eating as well as it gives the smoke a very nice flavor. I shared some with some friends and they were blown away with how smooth it was.

I gound that if you have a vacuum packer and the containers to go with it, you can do a nice job of curing our pot... Just hang them until they are ready and then vacuum pack them. Every day for the fist couple of weeks open the jar and let it breath for about 15 minutes. Re-seal and you are good to go..

[theyorker]

My only suggestion is to wait. I'm on my third generation and I've always been too anxious and cut the plants to early. It's excellent bud, but I think I'm also missing out on yield. My buds seem to have new white pistils everyday. They have been flowering since August 10 and I'm thinking they can go another 4 weeks easy. Only thing is I have the benefit of being able to buy good bud until this stuff matures fully. If I was desperate these girls would be cut tonight. As for curing, I like to trim the bud right away. It is easier to remove the "shake" leaves when they are first cut. Then hang it upside down in a cool, dark, dry place (like a closet). Use a coat hanger with a clothes pin and hang it upside down. Let it dry like this until the buds start to get crispy (5 - 7 days). Then cut the buds from the stalk and dry them out another week in a paper bag, making sure to let them breath frequently by opening the bag and shaking the buds around. After the are nice, put them in a tupperware or other container and smoke the best weed in the world...weed that is grown by you, or in my case me!:)

[Fing_57]

I think the more you Don't do right away the better off you are

its wetter longer but it has the time to do what it should for a better smoke and stone
the leafs also protects/covers the buds