This metal closet is finally doing more than taking up space

[Controlled Chaos]

Not sure when this thing became a part of the basement or who gifted it but it's been nothing but a placeholder for the far corner ever since. It's had some random odds and ends inside so the thought to use it as a curing chamber never crossed my mind but the leaves I just harvested are a little too big for the chest freezer used last time, so I had to figure something out.

Enter this piece of scrap metal. Two foil faced insulation boards and some foil tape and it's a curing chamber now. The aluminum tube through the door is to add water to the crock pot during the yellowing and wilting stage. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of the hanging leaves before sealing it up but they had a nice wrinkly gator texture with yellowing between the veins. I'll take a picture through the viewing slot in a day or two when I open it up to check how they're doing

 

[Controlled Chaos]

I couldn't wait to look again

 

[deluxestogie]

Are you flue-curing the leaf?

Bob

 

[Controlled Chaos]

Are you flue-curing the leaf?

Bob

Yes, this is my second attempt but with a different curing chamber setup

 

[Controlled Chaos]

Just a quick peek, looks like it's time to crack the vent to let out some humidity and spend the morning raising the temperature

 

[Controlled Chaos]

Looks like they should have been given another day to yellow a little more, I thought the green around the base of the stems would go away. Not bad for a first attempt with a new setup I guess, I learned a bit more about when to do what with temperature and humidity and a few modifications to the curing chamber. I'll give it another shot when I take the rest of the leaves from the top of the plant next week

 

[adamziegler]

another day to yellow a little more

I am not an expert, but I have found that keeping humidity high though the initial two phases helps wrap up yellowing that isn't quite done the first phase. 2-3 days at 95-105F gets them mostly yellow and then they wrap up yellowing in the 120-125F range with high humidity. From there humidity dropping seems to go ok.

Just sharing my experience... I doubt its what works for everyone. Hope it gives you some ideas for your experimenting.

 

[Controlled Chaos]

I am not an expert, but I have found that keeping humidity high though the initial two phases helps wrap up yellowing that isn't quite done the first phase. 2-3 days at 95-105F gets them mostly yellow and then they wrap up yellowing in the 120-125F range with high humidity. From there humidity dropping seems to go ok.

Just sharing my experience... I doubt its what works for everyone. Hope it gives you some ideas for your experimenting.

View attachment 53257

View attachment 53258

That's the graph I've been following. My first attempt with an old chest freezer went really well but this time I must have rushed it a bit. Next week the leaves on the top half of the plant should be ripe enough to pull and in they'll go. The other plant I cut down early decided to grow back and seems to be thriving even more than it was originally so hopefully it's mature enough to harvest by the time the weather gets frigid for one last try at flue curing

 

[adamziegler]

That's the graph I've been following.

Yeah I figured it was. My post was about how I don't follow it exactly to get results. Primary difference being high humidity through the second phase. Above 75-80%

 

[Skafidr]

The other plant I cut down early decided to grow back and seems to be thriving even more than it was originally

I read around that this sucker crop is generally not as good or as strong as the original though. It's not a reason not to harvest and use the leaves though (I don't have first hand experience with this yet so it's to be taken with a grain of salt.)

 

[deluxestogie]

My post was about how I don't follow it exactly to get results.

I accidentally made my first batch of candela wrapper by allowing green leaf to reach 104°F prior to its yellowing.

Bob

 

[Controlled Chaos]

Yeah I figured it was. My post was about how I don't follow it exactly to get results. Primary difference being high humidity through the second phase. Above 75-80%

Ahh I see, I'll keep that in mind. Keeping the humidity a little lower in the second phase has been the most difficult part so far, trying to keep vents adjusted and just so much water in the crock pot. Next time around I'll just leave the vents closed, thanks for the tip