Mouldy buds while drying

[BritManToo]

My first abject failure,

The buds went mouldy while drying ...........

Hanging to dry under the stairs at 63% humidity for 7 days.

 

Went to put them in a jar and noticed white fluff on several of the buds (about 5gm of buds affected).

 

Picked out the ones which seemed unaffected (35gms)

 

Hopefully these will be OK. Drying them a bit more in a car box with a 12" case fan blowing over the top.

Don't know what went wrong, never had this happen before.

Edited January 18, 2023 by BritManToo

[tomster]

Possibly there wasn't any air extraction where you dried them - that is the most common cause of mould when drying.

 

And you also need an indirect source of air movement around them, as well as the extraction.

 

Not directly on the buds as they will dry too quickly, but the air should be moving a bit.

[BritManToo]

15 hours ago, tomster said:

Possibly there wasn't any air extraction where you dried them - that is the most common cause of mould when drying.

You're right, but I'd already dried 2 plants under the stairs with no problems.

 

[FritsSikkink]

Could be mite

[Mr Meeseeks]

On 1/18/2023 at 9:21 PM, tomster said:

Possibly there wasn't any air extraction where you dried them - that is the most common cause of mould when drying.

 

And you also need an indirect source of air movement around them, as well as the extraction.

 

Not directly on the buds as they will dry too quickly, but the air should be moving a bit.

What he said. ????

[Mr Meeseeks]

I have a separate 4 x 2 tent for drying. Considering my turnover of plants it was a worthwhile investment. I have a 4" duct fan in there to maintain air extraction and a small 8"floor fan to circulate the air around.

 

It is completely dark so no loss of terps or UV damage when drying either.

[Mr Meeseeks]

 

I cure in jars or these bags. I find the bags to be more manageable. Can put larger amounts in a single bag and no need to burp. 

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

I have a separate 4 x 2 tent for drying. Considering my turnover of plants it was a worthwhile investment. I have a 4" duct fan in there to maintain air extraction and a small 8"floor fan to circulate the air around.

 

It is completely dark so no loss of terps or UV damage when drying either.

Same but cheaper ...........

[Adumbration]

Do you keep the moldy heads to give to your friends?

[BritManToo]

5 minutes ago, Adumbration said:

Do you keep the moldy heads to give to your friends?

Chucked the major mouldy flower.

Smoked the slightly mouldy flower.

Jarred the unaffected flower (pictured below).

 

Edited January 30, 2023 by BritManToo

[Adumbration]

28 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Chucked the major mouldy flower.

Smoked the slightly mouldy flower.

Jarred the unaffected flower (pictured below).

 

As a broke Uni student I was grateful if I had mouldy buds to smoke.  I am pretty sure nowadays if I did bucket bongs in the laundry sink it would end me.

[tomster]

54 minutes ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

 

I cure in jars or these bags. I find the bags to be more manageable. Can put larger amounts in a single bag and no need to burp. 

We use these also, they are much less hassle than burping jars.

 

Also now long drying (cut and hang, trim when dry) at 16-18 degrees C and 60% humidity - takes around 12-14 for the bigger buds but def holds more terps (and this has been researched and confirmed by at least one commercial company).

 

Trick with those bags is to get them to about 60% then heat seal, we use hair crimps, then don't open them until you are ready to sell or smoke.

 

When you open the bag after a long dry and 3-4 week cure in a Grove Bag: