Mini hydrometers, any better options?

I’ve got a bunch of these stupid things. Some used, many brand new, in the box. They all have one thing in common. None of them work.

Are there any better options for monitoring moisture content before Grove bagging my weed?

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I put one in every jar I’m curing to keep check on humidity. To get accurate readings on them, put a couple in a sealed container with a Boveda 62% packet or two in there. Let sit til stabilized and check hydrometer, they should read 62%, if not, simply write on each one in marker how much it’s off. That way you know they are accurate.

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I use the snap test for drying. When you fold the stems over you should hear crackling but the stem shouldn’t snap in half. If it folds but doesn’t make a sound it needs to dry longer. If it breaks in two it’s over dry and needs to be jarred. If it’s still dry after 24 hours in the jar add moisture.
For curing I use the smell and texture. Check regularly, if you smell wet hay, grass, or it feels wet wen you roll a bud between your fingers you need to burp the jar. If you smell ammonia or mold it’s gone too far, but you shouldn’t get to this point as long as you check regularly. If it smells like weed it’s good for a while close it back up immediately. when you go a couple weeks without having to burp you can seal it and it’s fine for up to a couple years.
No hygrometer required.

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I “calibrate” those things the same way as @Growdoc. I only use them for monitoring the Grove bags in early cure.

As far as measuring moisture content before I bag, I use the method Grove Bags suggests. I use a wood moisture meter. Push the prongs deep in the bud. Grove bags suggests bagging at 11% on the moisture meter using the wood setting…or soft wood setting depending on the unit you choose. My experience has shown me that I can bag at 13% and the bags bring the moisture down with no issues.

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I too use them for monitoring, I have developed a feel for when to jar them, but since building the DryDocs, they are dead on when they go in jars.

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I use mine to remind me I live sauna.

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Use a jar and check with how they feel in your hand. those tiny hygrometers are trash. Grove bags are trash.

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Why are Grove bags.trash?

Love the Grove bags. All my old Mason jars are gathering dust.

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They’re not. Nor are the hygrometers. Use mine daily.

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+1 for Grove bags. I think they are one of the best technology leaps our hobby has had recently. They work great.

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I use a crap load of those little hygrometers, couple in each jar when curing, a few places around the tent, some laying on the soil surface (not so much there anymore). I keep a butt load of batteries on hand and take the batteries out of them when I’m not using them. I think they work just fine. I’ve never calibrated them with Boveda bags, I use the next step up hygrometers to compare them to, $10 ones, and do the same as @Growdoc write the difference in the corner. I have a few of the $10 ones throughout my tents too. I’ve even used them in the jars. they fit!

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  1. They are consumable and designed to be thrown out and replaced. More plastic waste for no reason.

  2. they need to be heat sealed to work properly

  3. expensive for the same plastic bag all dry af legal weed comes in

  4. No advantages over jars. Very effective marketing, but thats the best thing I have to say about those bags.

I have 10 of those little black ones everyone uses and none of them show the same humidity ever, nor do they match a sensor I consider more reliable. When they do its a fluke and only aligns for a few hours. More expensive ones might be better but I wonder how many people let them normalize in the same location for a day or two and compare readings. I suspect its very few.