I recently harvested my first grow. Two plants: one AK-47 and one Chronic. Dried them upside-down for two weeks and now they are curing in mason jars. However, the buds are not very compact - very light and fluffy. They look very crystally and are sticky, and they are almost too strong to smoke (couldn't help trying it)! But I'm wondering - did I harvest too early or dry them wrong?

I didn't do a good job at writing down when I moved them to flowering. I also didn't have a good magnifying glass at the time... so I just waited until ~80% of the hairs went brown.

Fortunately, I've got 6 more plants flowering now from cuttings... so I'm hoping a little hint from the community might make the next harvest even better.

Thanks much for any insight!

might not have been enough light

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hmmm... i'm using a 400w HPS, and it is just inches away from the top of the plants. 12-12 hours. if this is the case, do you suggest a larger light?

other info: this is an indoor, hydroponic grow. i'm using General Hydroponics "Flora" series for nutrients. Using the little chart for the "simple recirculating program" as a guide to the amount of FloraGro, FloraMicro and FloraBloom. Not using any other nutrients. Perhaps there is something better?

other suggestions?

Thanks!

I kinda don't see the problem....you have sticky buds....could it be the WAY you cured them? You should seriously look at some of the other FAQ's sites...Jorge Cervantes has a cool site...do some research on the web....google your question and see if that's all good or something you mist. Just a thought.

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you might be right... there might not be a problem cause the shite is strong! (actually, seem stronger than anything i've ever bought). and i have a ton of it now... but it's just not looking normal (compact). i don't particularly have a problem with the way it looks, just wondering, since i'm new, if there is an obvious answer out there.

my drying/curing is:
1. clipped all the big fan leaves at harvest time, plus any of the smaller leaves i could easily cut.
2. hung them upside-down in a dark room for 12 days. they are nice and dry and break easily off the branches.
3. cut them all off the branches and put them in air-tight, glass mason jars.

they are only one day into the jars at this point... but i read somewhere that it is during the drying that they will become compact. they did somewhat, but not much.

thanks!

Hey stay online....I'm gonna go get my book. Well get down to the bottom of this. Let me help you out dude.

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According to Jorge Cervantes, you did many of the harvesting & drying steps very well. My question is, before you put them in the jars, how many days did you let them dry? It appears to be the key here, and I think I know why your buds are wet.

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It doesn't get any better than me

Supposedly the strains are AK-47 and Chronic. I don't have a way of verifying this, as it was from an acquaintance.

I just continued the watering/nutrient schedule right up until harvest. (Never heard of stopping the watering before harvest.) I have heard of using a water-only (no nutrients) for a week or so before harvest, but I didn't do that.

The drying was for about 10 days. I'm in a very dry climate (colorado). It's a good question... the main stems of the plant were not breaking when i started curing them - just the little tiny stems that connect the buds to the main stems. The buds are not "wet" so much as sticky.