So I’m a little bit away from harvest but being a newbie I’m trying to get everything in order for when the time comes. I’m growing a single Zkittles Autoflower plant indoors and this is my first time. I’m trying to get a sure bet plan for a first timer when it comes to harvesting, drying and curing. Any advice and techniques would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance friends
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You’ve got a couple threads going which will make it hard for you to keep track of everything. You might do well to start a journal and keep all your questions in one spot.
Post some pics, give a description, tag growers and ask. We’ll all be able to help you more
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To get the basics check out ILGM guides / grow sections. Drying and curing is discussed there. I like to dry trim. How you want to trim is one of the first decisions. That will dictate to a large degree how you prepare the buds for drying.
A long slow drying process without mold is what you want.
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I actually just finished reading the ILGM guide to drying and curing. That’s what prompted this post lol I think I started to overwhelm myself by all the options. I will most likely dry hang that seems to be the most practical but as far as time I get and then the curing process is what started to get me.
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Check tricomes and put up a few pics. When they are dry, (minimum 7 days)the curing should be at least 4 weeks. Get rh readers. I put one in each grove bag or jar. should read between 58 to 63%. when u r ready for this step, there are tons of pro
growers that will help you. I’m not sure if I even answered your question. 
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Agree the guide is a starting point.
I do not have the space or desire to hang whole or virtually whole plants. Some here do.
I leave the buds on the stems. I usually pull the long stemmed fan leaves and let the sugar leaves dry on the bud.
This is what I mean. This is two of eight main stems.
I will break them down a little further to clean them up before being hung to dry.
I hang them after a rough “trim”.
Then I usually dry them in large cardboard boxes - thank you costco.
I hope for them to take atleast 7 days. Longer is better but it depends on temp and humidity. Temps of 60 -70 (closer to 60 is better) with humidity 40 - 50%.
I dry trim over a trim tray. I break the stem down a little further so the buds are a manageable size
to trim off the sugar leaves and remaining small fan leaves etc
You get a nice pile of sugar leaves and the trichomes fall through screen into a bin below it
The finish bud. Ready to go in jars to cure.
Cure for six weeks plus. The desired RH of bud going into the jars is 60 - 62%.
Burp the jars a couple times a day the first week. Less, like every other day the second week. Third week check the RH in the jars has stabilized as close to 60 - 62% as possible. If high, continue burping to remove moisture.
Then keep it sealed and wait it out.
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Here’s a link to how I do it. Works well.
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That is a great description of how to harvest and dry your girls @beardless. 
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Thanks A rough outline but a start
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