Professor GrowTutor's Water Cure Method
Posted: Sun Dec 22, 2013 5:58 pm
Water curing is pretty simple but there are pros and cons...
One reason some people don't water cure is that it affects bag-appeal and it can change the taste and aroma. It can be harder to sell water cured crops because it looks different but that's how I often do my personal meds. I like the earthy taste, it's very smooth and increases potency, imho.
1)
Harvest.
Cut down the plant(s), remove all leaves (manicure), remove flowers from stems and let dry for 1 day at 50-60% humidity and about 70F...in the DARK.
2)
Soak.
Submerge in clean cool (not cold) water for about 7 days, gently changing out the water AT LEAST every day, more often is better, especially in the early stage. If the water is turning green quickly change it more often. Maybe 3 times per day for the first day or so. The more water to product ratio the less often is has to be changed. I like the water to be cool but that's not always easy without a stream, lake or river handy, if you use municipal water and pay for it by the gallon then drain to waste can get expensive and it's not really needed. If the water does get warm, in the summer, I just change it more often. I use tap water for the start and switch to distilled or RO water for the last 2 days or so. (also best done in the dark)
3)
Dry.
After the cure is done, take it out of the water and drain well but don't shake it too hard. You can pre-dry it on newspaper to absorb much of the water, just roll them around to dry parts every few minutes and change the newspaper as needed. Let it dry out, in the dark, at very low (35-40%) humidity levels (72F-ish) over night to quick dry it, turning them every so often to prevent molds, then 50-60% until completely dry and then package it up for storage or whatever. I like to dry on those round mesh hanging drying racks because they have good airflow and they hold a lot. If you're not sure about it being dry enough then use the slow-cure jar/cvault method for a few days more.
I've done shorter cures of 3-4 days and some strains are fine, other might need 7-10. It was "booboy" at the old Overgrow forums that turned me on to it, he used to just cut his plants and submerge them, whole, in his cool fresh water pond for a week. It's not as pretty as long curing in jars but it's quick, easy and it has a nice earthy taste that I enjoy.
Prof. GT
One reason some people don't water cure is that it affects bag-appeal and it can change the taste and aroma. It can be harder to sell water cured crops because it looks different but that's how I often do my personal meds. I like the earthy taste, it's very smooth and increases potency, imho.
1)
Harvest.
Cut down the plant(s), remove all leaves (manicure), remove flowers from stems and let dry for 1 day at 50-60% humidity and about 70F...in the DARK.
2)
Soak.
Submerge in clean cool (not cold) water for about 7 days, gently changing out the water AT LEAST every day, more often is better, especially in the early stage. If the water is turning green quickly change it more often. Maybe 3 times per day for the first day or so. The more water to product ratio the less often is has to be changed. I like the water to be cool but that's not always easy without a stream, lake or river handy, if you use municipal water and pay for it by the gallon then drain to waste can get expensive and it's not really needed. If the water does get warm, in the summer, I just change it more often. I use tap water for the start and switch to distilled or RO water for the last 2 days or so. (also best done in the dark)
3)
Dry.
After the cure is done, take it out of the water and drain well but don't shake it too hard. You can pre-dry it on newspaper to absorb much of the water, just roll them around to dry parts every few minutes and change the newspaper as needed. Let it dry out, in the dark, at very low (35-40%) humidity levels (72F-ish) over night to quick dry it, turning them every so often to prevent molds, then 50-60% until completely dry and then package it up for storage or whatever. I like to dry on those round mesh hanging drying racks because they have good airflow and they hold a lot. If you're not sure about it being dry enough then use the slow-cure jar/cvault method for a few days more.
I've done shorter cures of 3-4 days and some strains are fine, other might need 7-10. It was "booboy" at the old Overgrow forums that turned me on to it, he used to just cut his plants and submerge them, whole, in his cool fresh water pond for a week. It's not as pretty as long curing in jars but it's quick, easy and it has a nice earthy taste that I enjoy.
Prof. GT