Preserving flavor/aroma post-cure?

[GinFizzLuv]

I’ve got 4 strains that were chopped in late May 2020 and went in mason jars to cure in early June. They are sitting around 58-62% RH in the jars. They are stored in a completely dark closet that stays around 70F. They jars only get opened once or twice a month to grab a few nugs.

I’ve noticed the past month a big drop-off in the level and complexity of the terpenes. Not just opening the jars, but breaking open buds and the flavor when consuming. The herb still gets me plenty ripped, but the overall experience is lessened.

I feel like I had a 6-8 week window when they were at their peak. I know some people swear by multi-month cures, but these buds aren't even 4 months old.

I have a new harvest that went into jars a few weeks ago that smells extra killer. I’m wondering what I can do to preserve it better?

I’ve tried Bovedas in the past, but have never had good results with them preserving the pungency of my herb.

What about a vaccum sealer?

Or maybe squishing half my next harvest into rosin and throwing that in the freezer.

Or maybe a wine fridge?

 

[BII]

Theoretically, long term storage in a deep freezer is much better than "around 70F" to slow/prevent breakdown of terpenes (and everything else) in the buds. But freezing would bring other issues, including halting curing.

Pursuing retaining fresh bud-like odor/terpene profiles conflicts with your pursuing curing. With the buds sealed up, the terpenes (or any natural breakdown products) are all still there. If the odor is missing or changed, it's likely just part of the natural curing/aging process. Curing involves allowing the natural chemical, physical and microbiological breakdown of the buds, including all the stuff remaining protected within the now-dead cells and bound to cellulose fibers/cell walls. The terpenes you seek could well be just better bound within the cured or curing buds at the molecular/cellular level; glued down by resin; or are now gone, metabolized by microbes.

Personally, I don't expect curing to result in retention of terpene profiles. These are complex, and I expect them to change with curing/time.

 

[Proph]

Every strain is different.. It's up to you to find the sweet spot for curing each strain. That is rather difficult with autos because every plant is different. In the photo period world, you can take clones and find the perfect cure time as you familiarise yourself with the plant. The CapsCut that I grow changes from funky creamy yogurt with a month cure, to straight apples at two months. It also changes in appearance. I think it's all personal preference. Sounds like you have the process down though. One thing I will say is that opening the jars once or twice a month doesn't seem like hardly often enough. The buds need an exchange of fresh air at least every 7 days or so. Otherwise, the chlorophyll ( and all other chemicals) that are being released by the buds as they cure, have no where to go. The smell can then start to smell like fresh plants instead of the common weed smell.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

The first thing that has improved my cannabis crop aromas has been the addition of UVA to the lights in late flower. It was maybe a doubling of potency. The newest discovery Is Grove Bags for curing and storage. I have a drawer full of them now! I am going to garage sale all of my jars. I will never use them again.

https://www.autoflower.org/threads/grove-bags-and-boveda-curing.79246/

 

[GinFizzLuv]

Every strain is different.. It's up to you to find the sweet spot for curing each strain. That is rather difficult with autos because every plant is different. In the photo period world, you can take clones and find the perfect cure time as you familiarise yourself with the plant. The CapsCut that I grow changes from funky creamy yogurt with a month cure, to straight apples at two months. It also changes in appearance. I think it's all personal preference. Sounds like you have the process down though. One thing I will say is that opening the jars once or twice a month doesn't seem like hardly often enough. The buds need an exchange of fresh air at least every 7 days or so. Otherwise, the chlorophyll ( and all other chemicals) that are being released by the buds as they cure, have no where to go. The smell can then start to smell like fresh plants instead of the common weed smell.

Hey thanks man. Good stuff to think about. I’m still trying to figure out the frequency I be should opening the jars long term. I have one strain that is my least favorite and thus doesn’t get opened as often as the others and I definitely notice that one has the most green vegetal smell - bit of a celery smell.

 

[GinFizzLuv]

The first thing that has improved my cannabis crop aromas has been the addition of UVA to the lights in late flower. It was maybe a doubling of potency. The newest discovery Is Grove Bags for curing and storage. I have a drawer full of them now! I am going to garage sale all of my jars. I will never use them again.


View attachment 1232897

https://www.autoflower.org/threads/grove-bags-and-boveda-curing.79246/

Hmm. Interesting stuff. I’ve been meaning to pick up some grove bags. I will have to read up on UVA light. Improving terpene potency is on list if things to work on in future grows.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Hmm. Interesting stuff. I’ve been meaning to pick up some grove bags. I will have to read up on UVA light. Improving terpene potency is on list if things to work on in future grows.

I am running 2 of the AgroMax t5 48 inch UVA Plus 10,000K florescent lamps. They are not available world wide only USA.

 

[GinFizzLuv]

I am running 2 of the AgroMax t5 48 inch UVA Plus 10,000K florescent lamps. They are not available world wide only USA.

View attachment 1233180

Nice. Thanks. What is your primary light?

 

[AFNG]

Second for Grove Bags. Won't use anything else if I can help it.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Nice. Thanks. What is your primary light?

These are my lights in a 4x6 space. I run some of them at different points in the grow.

2 - 500w Chilled Growcraft LEDs
2 Far Red Pucks
2 Royal Blue Pucks
2 50w LED w/blue
2 - 48" t5 Agromax UVA Plus 10,000K florescent lamps
1- 48" t5 Agromax Pure UV 75% UVB 25% UVA florescent lamps

I am running the ChilLeds at ~ 330 watts each right now. That gives me ~39 DLI in 12/12.