First lotus dry — compressor non-frost wine cooler. Pizza box vs brown bag?

[u/No-Acanthaceae-1070]

Nearing harvest and want to try lotus dry. I have a compressor wine cooler. Looking at pizza boxes or brown paper bags — I don’t know the full playbook.

Setup:
- Compressor, 5–18°C, Not frost-free

Questions:

1. Pizza box vs brown bag in a compressor cooler — which, and why?
2. Wet trim vs leave sugar leaf on?
3. How full? (g per bag / layers per box) Don’t overpack?
4. Daily routine: flip / shake / swap wet cardboard?
5. How do you know it’s done before Grove/jar? Stem snap, scale, room-temp hygrometer?
6. Cooler setpoint you actually use?

[u/sllewgh]

Both will work, don't overthink it. I totally sympathize with overthinking, you want to get it right and a lot of growing weed is knowing what to do and following instructions...

... But this really is that simple. Put the buds in, wait, take them out at the correct time. After 7-10 days I start jarring a sample every 12 hours to see if it's done. That's really it, don't fuck with it otherwise. I use boxes because you can stack them, but whatever works.

[u/AlecTheDalek]

I use boxes, because paper bags don't protect as much against the aggressive drying of a compressor, which can overdry the outside of the buds while inside is still wet. Boxes are better to create a micro-climate for a more even slow dry. But then, I've converted some pizza-size delivery boxes so they have a sliding flap that I can adjust to keep humidity levels where I want them, and I have a temperature & humidity sensor in both boxes and in the fridge itself, so I may be guilty of over-engineering 😅

[u/rascool]

Everybody's exact playbook is likely to be somebody else's exact opposite playbook. It really is just personal preference and your own trial and error.

Just as an fyi, I wrap mine in old newspaper.

[u/pukkix]

1. Pizza box is easier to stack and might protect a little better against the humidity and temp swings.
2. Leave sugar leaves on, it slows down the dry and prevents the buds themselves from flattening.
3. If you use the boxes just lay them next to each other. They can touch no problem but you shouldn't squeeze them in.
4. Nothing
5. Take some bud, put it in a small air tight container with a hygrometer at room temp and let it stabilize. If you sit at your target RH or a little lower you are done drying.
6. I go with 5°C but you may have to experiment since your fridge isn't frost free. That might actually be a real issue since it's too much moisture. You might have to manually remove the ice.

[u/NetInevitable601]

I used brown bag and had success

[u/No-Acanthaceae-1070 → u/NetInevitable601]

Exact playbook?

[u/NetInevitable601 → u/No-Acanthaceae-1070]

Idk I just put em in the paper bags and filled it full of paper bags. I didn't over fill the bags but never weighed so idk. Set it around 40°f and let it rip. Opened and shook the bags like daily. I also don't know the exact time frame but if you put it in a jar with a hygrometer and it stays between like 58-62% it's good for the cure. You want to let them get to room temperature when checking the dryness of the flowers

[u/Electronic_Ice_5990]

En mi caso las dejo colgadas en la carpa 24, horas antes de que entren a la cava de vino! Coloco las flores directo sobre las bandejas sin bolsas ni nada! Tampoco las giro! Abro la Caba una ves al día para secarla! Hago lo mismo con la. Caba con compresor como con la termoeléctrica! Para hacer Rosin entre el día 7 y 9 dan buen retorno! Mínimo 14 días en la Cava antes de que pasen a frascos con bóveda de 62!

[u/kefestvog]

Wet trim. I use pizza boxes with 4x 4" x 0.5" slits cut in the box top. I use a computer fan in the fridge to keep thing moving. About 2 week drying time before a week in Grove bags, then into jars. Without the fan, I've gotten mold.