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Psychopathic666
Mycology and axolotl enthusiast



Registered: 12/26/10
Posts: 1,129
Loc: NE Ohio, USA
Last seen: 5 years, 14 days
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How do you dry your herbs?
#14493795 - 05/22/11 12:18 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I just harvested some of my herbs, and I was wondering what would be an easy way to dry them. I can't afford a dehydrator or anything like that. These are psychotropic herbs I collected, so I'd like to keep all the chemicals in the leaves.
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BargainBab
Hey Dere Ho Dere



Registered: 04/04/11
Posts: 1,178
Loc: Callisto
Last seen: 10 years, 2 months
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I use a desiccant chamber  Just some damp rid and a shoebox or little tub
-------------------- Oh wow, GOOD Nyborg!
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Psychopathic666
Mycology and axolotl enthusiast



Registered: 12/26/10
Posts: 1,129
Loc: NE Ohio, USA
Last seen: 5 years, 14 days
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: BargainBab]
#14493810 - 05/22/11 12:21 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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What's a desiccant chamber?
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Ieponumos
Mycophile/Phytophile


Registered: 09/02/09
Posts: 4,850
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Quote:
Psychopathic666 said: What's a desiccant
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Desiccant
Look into silica gel or calcium chloride.
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Psychopathic666
Mycology and axolotl enthusiast



Registered: 12/26/10
Posts: 1,129
Loc: NE Ohio, USA
Last seen: 5 years, 14 days
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: Ieponumos]
#14493841 - 05/22/11 12:27 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Is there a decent way to air-dry herbs? I can't afford desiccants or chambers, nor do I have the time. I'm drying mugwort and datura.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East



Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
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on a dark counter. Best to do it if its not humid. fans help.
once air dried, pop inside a plastic bag and if you cant afford silica gel, throw in a handful of rice, it will suck some more moisture out.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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Doc_T
Random Dude




Registered: 03/06/09
Posts: 42,395
Loc: Colorado
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: kadakuda]
#14493930 - 05/22/11 12:49 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Dehydrator from thrift store or garage sale would be cheaper than any othr method.
-------------------- You make it all possible. Doesn't it feel good?
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Psychopathic666
Mycology and axolotl enthusiast



Registered: 12/26/10
Posts: 1,129
Loc: NE Ohio, USA
Last seen: 5 years, 14 days
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: Doc_T]
#14493958 - 05/22/11 12:55 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Kadakuda...I have done that before with catnip, I just put it on some paper towels and left it. I wanted to know if the chemicals would stay in the leaves if I let them dry like that.
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kadakuda
The Great"Green".......East



Registered: 05/21/04
Posts: 7,048
Loc: Asia
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Why wouldnt they? most herbs you just want to keep away form dampness, high heat and light. using a dehydrator is just simply a fan with small amount of heat added. i made my own drying racks about 8x4' and floor to ceiling for about $70 not counting fans.
-------------------- The seeds you won't sow are the plants you dont grow.
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bongo
Stranger

Registered: 05/22/11
Posts: 119
Last seen: 11 years, 11 months
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: kadakuda]
#14499833 - 05/23/11 04:09 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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just put it on newspapers and a fan for 3 days, and put it in a freezer
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Auxin
Stranger

Registered: 09/03/09
Posts: 433
Loc: USA
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: bongo]
#14500282 - 05/23/11 05:45 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Desiccants would be a total waste of money and effort for drying herbs. They are only good for super-drying already dry herbs and thats rarely needed.
Just hang them or put them on a rack someplace warmish with minimal light and preferably no sunlight. Its particularly good if you can put them over something a bit warmer than the room temp, this provides constant air circulation with no fan. I have a rack above a 4 tube fluoro light fixture for instance. The water heater also puts off some heat, you could hang them above it. Avoid anything more than moderately warm air for the mugwort as it contains volatile goodies. Daturas goodies are non-volatile.
I own various fans, a meat dehydrator/smoker, a fruit/veggie/herb dehydrator, desiccation chambers, and a range of different desiccants and its a very rare scenario than any of those get used in herb or even root drying.
-------------------- The Nook
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Zaka
Explorer



Registered: 04/12/09
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: Auxin]
#14500552 - 05/23/11 06:32 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Irie, I often use the TV! Yeah ya know the big-ass old bastards, that I'm sure many of you not in the third-world haven't seen for years!!! I have a large flat, think it's bamboo??, woven basket. My one has a lid! Herbs are laid in the basket and rested on the back of the TV... Usually dried in 3-7 days...Depending on the herb!! Sorry only low tech here.... Not sure how'd do it with a flat screen!!!!??? Respect, Z
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steelmonkey
Homejigger



Registered: 02/22/11
Posts: 1,822
Loc: Nova Scotia,Canada
Last seen: 2 years, 4 months
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: Zaka]
#14500582 - 05/23/11 06:37 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I twist tie into bunches then thread a string through and hang them like a clothes line supposedly hanging them upside down keeps the oils in the leaves
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Auxin
Stranger

Registered: 09/03/09
Posts: 433
Loc: USA
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: Zaka]
#14501113 - 05/23/11 08:34 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Quote:
Zaka said:Not sure how'd do it with a flat screen!!!!???
Perhaps suspend the flat screen horizontally from the ceiling over your bed. Then just put a rack above it and a close friend and age restricted DVDs beneath it. Heat would be generated one way or another.
-------------------- The Nook
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TheEnd
Strange Daze


Registered: 09/04/06
Posts: 1,021
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: Auxin]
#14501646 - 05/23/11 09:53 PM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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I have a dehydrator, so I use that.
But if you're on the cheap, just hang them upside down in a dark spot where there is plenty of air circulation. If you have one, even a small fan will help a lot to disrupt the air and keep it circulating. Drying times will be shorter and a lot less chance of any kind of mold or rot.
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Locky
Dont Spill Me!



Registered: 11/27/10
Posts: 9,348
Loc: Over here, yes, here
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Re: How do you dry your herbs? [Re: TheEnd]
#14502204 - 05/24/11 12:07 AM (12 years, 8 months ago) |
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Dry them like you would weed
psychotropic herbs are medical herbs? rite?
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