At some point I have to trim the buds and will need to see!
I have a huge plant so trimming all the fan leaves the day before will a big job in itself.
I’d like to take off the sugar leaves before driying and save, how is this done in the dark???
Or is it just important to get the plant cut before sun up?
I can see this taking several hours yet the plant is supposed to dry in total darkness??
Is a dim basement not enough darkness?
It seems like I am missing an awful lot here?
Thanks for any and all input please don’t be shy all techniques are welcome.
I’m on my first grow so I’m no expert… but I’ve heard you can check your plants during dark period with a green light ? Maybe that applies to harvesting too ?? Still looking into it my eyes are bad. Just a suggestion
1 Like
Yes this subject is not covered very well, either that or I’m not using the best key words to search the forum.
I’m a trouble shooter by trade and need things to be very specific. Doubt must be ruled out to make good decisions.
I will be up by 5 am and I will have it removed and hanging while dark, just need to know how to trim it up in the dark?
Why do you have to do it in the dark, I missed something I think.
1 Like
Why the “dark” concern? I cut mine in broad daylight, greenhouse to be exact, then trim the sugar leaves. I then give mine a bath, bud wash, before hanging to dry, all in daylight. I then hang in drying room with a fan, dehumidifier and AC unit, and I go in and out regularly to check on them and turn the lights on. There are multiple schools of thought on drying, but either way, turning lights on and off to check on them should cause no harm
4 Likes
I did too
1 Like
Yeah I always threw mine in the back of the truck, threw a tarp over it. In the middle of the day. Rednecks with flashlights in the woods at night not a good idea.
5 Likes
@UncleCharley what jetlag is doing is right on. The reason for harvest from darkness is simply to separate the root mass from the canopy: in theory this will cut down on residual salts in the dried flower.
Doing a defoliation ahead of harvest can sure help too.
Bud wash is absolutely essential IMO if outdoors. Peroxide and water.
5 Likes
Oh FYI there’s a post going right now on having green lights in a drying room. And the benefits or lack of benefits using dark drying methods. Might help
1 Like
High, one cup Peroxiding to 5 gallons of water is what I have been told. Let them sit in for about 15 min
Ger
3 Likes
High after the fifteen minutes take out and dry off as much as you can then put in dry room. Is what I have been told anyway
Ger
1 Like
I used 1 cup in 5Gal bucket. Actually I added other things as well, but the general consensus is to use peroxide alone, and it works well. I dip a branch and gently move around for about 30 seconds, then repeat the same procedure in another 5Gal bucket with fresh water, and hang to drip dry. I use the stands ladies might use at home to hang underwear and such to dry, bypassing the clothes’ dryer. If the wind is blowing I let it do its job, and if not, as in 2 days ago, I put a nice fan blowing right on them until they are drip dry, and to the drying room they go. It isn’t hard or complicated, maybe tedious depending on how much you have to wash. My first ever grow this past summer came down with a case of the bud rot. I cut the damaged buds off, and next day cut the plants. I was then advised to do a wash, which I did, just in case. Don’t want to be smoking mold, but I was surprised at all the other junk that came off the plants. I grow in a greenhouse , so it might make a difference. The buds do look cleaner and brighter after a bath in my opinion.
2 Likes
I posted about bud washing about a week ago and have joined the legions doing the wash! My first two are drying nicely and they do look fresher after the bath. I’m outdoors and there was quite and array of stuff I don’t want to burn.
1 Like
Amen to that. Think about this, we wash all veggies we cook and eat. I was sold after being forced to wash my first grow, never looked back 
2 Likes
Sorry; just put out 67 tons of rock on my yard.
1 cup in 5 gallons, 6 to 8 minutes immersed, rinse in tapwater, hang dry then dry/cure as normal. The longer soak is to allow solution into the flower and attack any White Powdery Mildew (WPM) that may be present. If you look at the water after soaking and see a rainbow sheen; that’s mildew.
3 Likes
I did this recently using the 3 bucket method (2 for rinse) This is also suppose to create a super smooth smoke. I harvested at 4pm I guess there are soooo many different ways to do this.
Back in the 70’s I had some of the best gold bud ever it had some seeds in it but was as good as anything out today only tasted much better. And I’m sure they did not go to any of the long processes that we have convinced ourselves we need.
4 Likes
With the 5 gal buckets you just dip while holding the stems, no handling the buds.
1 Like