I just harvested my first plant, and I trimmed the big fan leaves off, and then tipped the sugar leaves. I figured the crystals were so dense it was a shame to cut them early. I let them hang for 2 days, then went back and tipped them again into my shake/trim container.
I'm running only on what I think would work best. I can't back it up with fact, evidence, or anything like that.
But as long as the bud comes out smokeable, and pleasant, what damage could be done, right?
I live in CA, and it's pretty much summer now. Temps in the 80s to high 90s, and they are curing in my shed. No humidity. Shouldn't be a mold problem.
To each his own!