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
Trimming
Drying
Buds are generally hung to dry in a warm dry location after trimming. The temperature and humidity of the drying space will affect how long the buds take to dry. In the process of drying biological processes continue inside of the buds and complex carbohydrates and chlorophyll is converted into simple carbohydrates such as glucose. Drying slowly is preferable as it ensures the maximum breakdown of sugars and also that the inside of the bud is as dry as the outside. Buds should be left to dry until the stems bend but are somewhat firm when pressure is applied, then they should be stored in air-tight glass jars for curing. If the jars humidity is over 70%, the buds are not yet dry enough to be stored for curing.
Note: It is not recommended to smoke under-dried weed as it can induce a headache.
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