How important is it to keep light out

I know the drying room is supposed to be dark! But i don’t understand why or what happens differently if its not in a dark room. I guess my question is “how important is it for the dry room to be dark”?

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I’ve never heard of this and have no idea why someone might suggest it.

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Follow up:

I have read a couple of articles online that suggest this.

Trichomes are volatile, but all articles fail to address the mechanism by which light might contribute to trichome volatility. Most chemically volatile compounds only vaporize at specific temps, pressures, and possibly humidity.

I’ve had plenty of university level physics and chemistry and do not agree until I see legitimate evidence that this is the case.

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I’ve been told this for years by the old heads that taught me how to gorilla grow. So i guess i just took the advice as golden.

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It makes absolutely no sense given that trichomes get a tremendous amount of light for the entire flowering cycle. If it was to make sense in any significant manner, then we would be seeing recommendations to dial back light intensity during late flower.

I suggest BS and bro science until I see evidence that makes sense.

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Light degrades terps, especially UV after the chop. This is the only related info I could find. Falling down the dark drying rabbit hole now and see what the Doc has to say?

No luck but did find that THC degrades to CBN if light is present when drying. Doesn’t this happen if you let her flower too long as well?

Good topic and question.

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Okay. I’ve found evidence that makes sense.

I’ve found a few articles on photosensitized oxidation. How much of a factor it is, is something I cannot find.

Really interesting question, @David1974.

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Temp is the predominant factor as to THC degrading or converting to CBN not light. I little bit of ambient light is okay but definitely do not try to dry outside in the sun.

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I feel like that needed to be said but it’s :grin: :joy:

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Okay to summarize using my vast intellect… :nerd_face:

I think most of us dry the way we do due to old school methods but also it seems a dark, cool humid rich environment is what gets us to a 10-14 day dry which preserves all the good stuff which then reveals itself during the cure.

Light = heat so it may be as simple as keeping it dark to keep the temp down to stretch out the dry.

Headed home from work on this Glorious Friday afternoon, y’all have a great weekend and stay lit!!

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Well this was quite the rabbit hole. It was fun and I learned a few things.

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I read it was because the tissue in the plant can continue to produce chlorophyll as long as it has moisture and there is light. It will break down chlorophyll as long as there is moisture and not enough light. It went on to state excess chlorophyll could impact end product taste. I forget the source, but I think it evaluated potency as well and saw less impacts there. I think either way with a proper dry/cure you would give the plant material time to process the chlorophyll but if you can cut the lights you may expedite the process enough to save it from a lower quality dry.

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I hang for drying in garage/lung room.
Mrs. Daisey does the laundry and runs the dryer.
I do my activities in the room, too.
Lights on and added heat, not in my control.
I smoke the dried weed.
Hope it is good.

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I have some other potted plants in the actual room my grow closet is in. They stay under a Diablo200. I also hang to dry in the room. I used to keep totally dark at all times, but haven’t in some time, and have experienced no difference really. But I’m not sure that small 200w light (only at 100w) in a large room is enough to make a difference.

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I’ve literally dried bud above the grow light in my tent and it was perfectly fine


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Thats how we did it in 1982, on the HPS1000.
dried in a day a smoked fresh…
Maybe, what did we know, back then?

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That’s the year of the dinosaurs died

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So with what I am reading drying can have some light but curing in jars needs to be in a dark room? I’m not at this stage yet but getting ready for it I have a 1 gallon pickle jar I was gonna use lol

Not in the “light” is advised for storing weed.
Grow shop has weed in jars, in light, so…
Do your best.

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I know huh…Its funny but over the years Ive seen and heard people try to dry it in microwaves …ovens …and sun…

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