Dear Ed, I have trouble drying and curing my crops. The skunky odor seems hard to retain and the buds usually are too brit- tle. How can I get better results for this important final step? —J.T., California Cultivators harvesting a small crop have trouble retaining the humidity in the curing area that buds need for a slow cure and dry, which helps retain some moisture and odor. If there are only a few ounces to cure, a cardboard box can be set up to serve as a drying area. In dry climates, even larger growers may face too dry an atmosphere. Clos- ing off the space helps increase hu- midity. A humidifier and some ven- tilation has also been used. Dear Ed, What method of germination would you suggest for best results? —The CARP Northern Illinois University Plant the seeds in the medium in which they are to be grown. Keep the medium moist. Enclose the containers in a mini-greenhouse to keep the humidity high. Soil tem- perature should be maintained at about 72°. Heating cables can be used.
Dear Ed, Can a food dehydrator be used to dry buds? —NORML Supporter North Carolina Most growers prefer to let their pot dry relatively slowly, over a period of three to seven days. This mel- lows the sharp taste and removes the green taste. The dehydrator can be used to remove some mois- ture from the material after it has wilted. They may be useful for pro- cessing large quantities. Dear Ed, Does it matter how damp the plants are at harvest time? I cut watering down during flowering and fan leaves droop. Is this OK? Should fan leaves be trimmed
to make way for larger flowers? —Grateful Grower Abilene, Texas
Drooping fan leaves are a sign of heat stress. This slows down growth and lowers yield, although it may speed up ripening a bit. The fan leaves support bud growth by producing sugars used for tissue growth. Removing these leaves lowers the plant’s ability to grow. Perhaps the plant can be opened up a bit by spreading its branches.
38 MARCH/APRIL 2026
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