better cure- aerobic or anaerobic?

[jammie]

hey all. long time lurker but i think this is my first post. anyway- i just got a new toy called the pump n seal. it seems to do a fantastic job of sealing a mason jar so airtight that it can't be opened with your fingers. i did a 3 week slow dry on some finished satori and was going to vacuum seal it for a month. i assume the anaerobic conditions will kill or prevent any mold but will it speed up or slow down the curing process??

[nuggdigger]

slow down:kind:

welcome btw

[guest]

Hey jammie,

hey all. long time lurker but i think this is my first post. anyway- i just got a new toy called the pump n seal. it seems to do a fantastic job of sealing a mason jar so airtight that it can't be opened with your fingers. i did a 3 week slow dry on some finished satori and was going to vacuum seal it for a month. i assume the anaerobic conditions will kill or prevent any mold but will it speed up or slow down the curing process??

The pump and seal works well, but I would suggest not pumping it too hard so you don't damage the flowers. I just use half-gallon to gallon mason jars which I pack about 90% full with flowers. Then I add a few oxygen absorbers and a moisture absorber.

If one starts with lower levels of oxygen in the container the oxygen absorbers will do the rest. And since you have the pump and seal you are step ahead of most!

Oxygen Absorbers - 100cc (100 Packet Count)
http://sporeworks.com/store/product.php?productid=16192&cat=261&page=1
Extend the shelf life of your freshly dried mushrooms by using oxygen absorbers in your storage regiment. These oxygen absorbers will reliably reduce oxygen levels in sealed containers to .01% or less, preventing the growth of aerobic pathogens and spoilage organisms, including molds.

Each packet is rated to absorb up to 100cc of oxygen. Placing a single absorber packet in a quart jar along with your freshly dried edible and gourmet specimens will ensure freshness much longer than without the use of absorbers.

These oxygen absorbers are made of a chemical compound, the major active ingredient is powdered iron. These absorbers are completely safe, and while they are not edible, they are also not toxic. No harmful gases are created and the oxygen does not remove the fresh smell and taste of the product.

Use with gas flushing/vacuum packaging to absorb virtually all oxygen and absorb any oxygen that may permeate the packaging.



Desiccant - 0.14 cubic feet (40 bag count)
http://sporeworks.com/store/product.php?productid=16191&cat=261&page=1


HTH

[Green Supreme]

Don't know what it is about putting a bag of "whatever" near my nugs, but too each his own. Peace GS

[guest]

Hey GS,

Yea I see your point but it doesn't seem to have any effect on the flowers at all, just removes oxygen. And since it seems THC can degrade in the presence of oxygen I like to remove as much of it as I can. I also tried sealing flowers in a jar filled with Co2, that worked well but was a pain.

Here is something which might alleviate some worries:

These oxygen absorbers are made of a chemical compound, the major active ingredient is powdered iron. These absorbers are completely safe, and while they are not edible, they are also not toxic. No harmful gases are created and the oxygen does not remove the fresh smell and taste of the product.


Hope your good! :)

[Lungus]

So the oxidation (rusting) of the iron particles and possibly a catalyst of some sort, to speed the process, is what removes oxygen in those packets, ahhh.

[Green Supreme]

Talk is cheap. Sorry I have been mislead before by companies that just wished to sell their products. Sorry to railroad this topic. Peace GS

[jammie]

hey guys- thanks for stopping by. the pump n seal seems to pull 100% of the air out of my mason jars without disturbing any of the buds. i'm not sure what an o2 absorber would add. i make my own dessicants by stapling 20 or so grains of rice in a little cheesecloth. works great, costs nothing, takes 30 seconds to make. a special thanks to nuggdigger for answering the question, although i'd like to hear your reasoning.

[guest]

Hey,

hey guys- thanks for stopping by. the pump n seal seems to pull 100% of the air out of my mason jars without disturbing any of the buds.

I very much doubt that. Even a couple hundred dollar vacuum sealer with bags doesn't remove 100% of oxygen, hence we have the bags...


i'm not sure what an o2 absorber would add.

The benefit of removing oxygen which the pump and seal did not, and to ensure oxygen removal if/when oxygen permeates into the jars. After all, it's only a pump and seal, they aren't high quality.


i make my own dessicants by stapling 20 or so grains of rice in a little cheesecloth. works great, costs nothing, takes 30 seconds to make.

And doesn't work nearly as well as a real desiccant. You can't believe most of what is thought to be 'facts' as stated by authors of cannabis books or magazines or even most people who post on most forums...a sad reality, but a true one IMO...

[jammie]

hey gojo thanks for the advice. i guess the question i should have asked is aerobic bacteria or anaerobic bacteria more effective at breaking down chlorophyll

[c-ray]

what do bacteria have to do with curing?

imho a proper cure will be mostly done while the plant is still alive, the plant will eat (transform) the magnesium in the chlorophyll on its own, when it is allowed to...ie the dried flowers should be highly smokable when they are put in the jar, the cure more or less should just redistribute the moisture (and the essential oils, aromas) evenly throughout

[vapor]

agreed cray, the thing i call the cure is the change after the first few weeks when the joints start to throw resin,usually i see this a bit after the planties are dry.,.,

[jammie]

what do bacteria have to do with curing?

imho a proper cure will be mostly done while the plant is still alive, the plant will eat (transform) the magnesium in the chlorophyll on its own, when it is allowed to...ie the dried flowers should be highly smokable when they are put in the jar, the cure more or less should just redistribute the moisture (and the essential oils, aromas) evenly throughout

"Sweat curing is the technique most widely used in Colombia. Long branches containing colas are layered in piles about 18 inches high and a minimum of two feet square, more often about ten by fifteen feet. Sweat curing actually incorporates the fermenting process. Within a few hours the leaves begin to heat up from the microbial action in the same way that a compost pile ferments. Then change in colour is very rapid; watch the pile carefully, so that it does not overheat and rot the colas" I thought i had remembered a process that used anerobic bacteria in the cure process.

[Green Supreme]

I can see they would do that because of the sheer quantities they had to deal with. If you have that sort of quantity this might make sense , but if it were me I would want my nugs better take care of. Heating thc and terps degrades. I like all the goodies intact. Peace GS

[jammie]

hey there green. yeh- i hardly think my 6 plant, 18 oz grow resembles a 10ft pile but i was trying to achieve in a 1 oz mason jar, at alot lower temp (90degree), the same basic conditions. i usually do 1 grow a year for personal stash and have been doing it off and on for 20 yrs but just can't seem to get that real smooth tasting, golden nugget look, doing the usual 10 day flush, hang, slow dry, paper bag, jar, burp-yadayada. i'm just trying to look for a better way to achieve my ideals of a perfect bud.

[Green Supreme]

I am not so sure the golden part has too much to do with the smoothness{certainly shows a lack of chlorophyll}. If you wish lighter colored herbs try 2 even 3 weeks of just water at the end. Personally I flush with water for most indicas 3 weeks and the sativas for 5 weeks. Good luck. Peace GS

[hazedaze]

I got my pump n seal a week ago. Works great, strongest vaccume on the market. Keeps things from drying out to much in my dry climate.