Harvesting, Drying and Curing

The colour of the plants trichomes can give a good indication of the amount of THC and CBD and thus the optimum time to harvest. It is recommended to use a jeweller's loupe or USB microscope to observe the colour. Most growers harvest their cultivar when a third of the trichomes have turned amber, by this time most of the trichomes are full of THC. Trichomes turn amber when the THC has turned into CBD

Drying

The optimum air drying humidity is between 40 and 50% (RH). I keep around 20-22C. In the process of drying biological processes continue inside of the buds and the chlorophyll is converted into glucose. Move a humidity sensor around your house to find a spot with good conditions. You can tell the buds are dry when the stems snap instead of bending when pressure is applied. The smell can also offer a clue as to how well-dried buds are, chlorophyll has a fresh-cut grass or banana-like smell. Drying slowly is preferable as it ensures the inside of the buds are as dry as the outside.

Note: under-dried/under-cured weed can induce a headache when smoked as a result of too much chlorophyll.

Drying setup examples

Curing

Once buds are dried they should be stored in an air-tight container preferably glass and "burped" (left open for 5 minutes a day) for a week or two