Marijuana Horticulture: The Indoor/Outdoor Medical Grower's Bible

growing area’s size. Large harvests require much more room. If drying space is a problem, a staggered planting schedule, or planting varieties that ripen both early and late, carries over to a staggered harvest that frees up drying space as buds dry.
    Large outdoor and indoor crops need large spaces in which to dry. You can use the grow area as a drying room if not growing any plants. Do not dry plants in the same room in which plants grow. Different climates are required for growing marijuana and drying it. Fungus and spider mites can also migrate from dead plants to live ones. Inspect drying buds daily for any signs of fungus, mold, and spider mites. Smear Tanglefoot™ around the end of drying lines to form a barrier which keeps mites from migrating to live plants. Mites congregate at the barrier and are easy to smash.
    A cardboard or wooden box makes an excellent drying space to hang small harvests. The air flow in the enclosed area is diminished, and buds and leaves must be turned daily to even out the moisture content and discourage mold. Thread a large needle with dental floss, and string the floss back and forth through the box near the top to make drying lines. If the box is tall enough, you can install several levels of drying lines. Lock the flaps on the box and set it in a closet or spare room. Open flaps to allow air circulation as needed. Or, cut holes near the bottom and top of the box to allow air exchange and circulation. Check daily to see how buds are drying. If tops dry too fast, open the box-top and set the box in a cooler location.

This harvest took longer to dry because it was not manicured until after it dried.
    Hanging plants is a labor-saving way to facilitate slow, even drying. Large, moist stems can also be removed and small branches hung from the ceiling to cut drying time by a few days.
    Use clothespins to attach branches to drying lines, or poke a paper clip through the base of branches and hang clip from line. Another option is to trim branches to form a hook and hang from the “hook.”
    Use a portable foldable clothesline to make a quick mobile drying room. Unfold clothesline, hang buds from lines, and cover with a large, black bed sheet or cloth. The cloth sheet allows the exchange of air and maintains darkness. Train a fan on the outside of the sheet so air circulates underneath and dries buds.
    Building a small drying room is as easy as tacking some plywood together at right angles and hanging lines across the enclosure. Or you can make walls from black Visqueen™ plastic by tacking or taping it to the ceiling and floor to form walls.
    Drying a large harvest can require a large space. If you have a large space such as a bedroom, barn, shed, etc, cut plants at the base and remove large leaves, and hang on drying lines in the room. Cut branches from 12-40 inches (30-100 cm). Manicure each branch and hang on drying lines to complete the drying process.
    Save space by building or buying drying racks for the buds. Make drying racks from window screen or plastic agricultural netting. Stretch the screen or netting over a wooden frame and secure with staples. Put three- to six-inch (8-15-cm) spacers between framed screens to allow adequate airflow. Or build a drying box with removable screens. See photo above.
    Hang manicured buds to dry for a day or two before placing on drying screens to allow the bulk of the moisture to dissipate. Once on screens, buds should be turned daily to ensure even drying.

A simple drying box is easy to make. Wooden spacers between boxes allow for adequate air flow.
    Manicured buds can also be placed in boxes to dry. Move buds daily so new surfaces are exposed to air. Buds dry slower, because the air flow is reduced. Line boxes with plastic or aluminum foil to contain for collection resin glands that fall to the bottom. To contain resin glands, seal cracks in boxes with tape.
    Drying time depends upon temperature, humidity, and bud density. Most buds will be dry enough to cure in five to seven days. Big, fat, dense buds can take three to four days longer. Gently squeeze buds after they dry for a few days to check for moisture content. Bend stems to see if they are done. If the stem breaks rather than folds, it is ready to cure.
    Check for dryness by bending a stem. The stem should snap rather than fold when bent. The bud should be dry to touch, but not brittle. The bud should burn well enough to smoke when dry.
    Light (UV rays), heat, and friction hasten