DRYING bud with SILICA sand????

has anyone heard of silica sand? or has anyone used it? it is cheap and can get it at hardware stores for cheap and it is used to dry oil spills on pavement or lots of growers use them to dry their flowers so they can save the flowers as decoration.

i was thinking if you put the buds in this silica sand, it may help the process of drying it and there would be no heat to dry it too fast that way. so not sure if this process would cause harsh smoke or not. i may have to try this method soon. any comments/???

not to sure actually...

silica is non toxic to humans (it's only a choking hazard)

find out for sure or try it with a small portion of your harvest.. never attempt a new method with your entire crop.

Seems to me that it would rub off a lot of the glands and you would end up with sand in your weed...:confused:

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Originally Posted by Bender

and you would end up with sand in your weed

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i think this would be the problem, wouldnt feel good having sand going down ur throat
:p

yes i think now it is not a good idea. it did before. oh well, thank you

Silica is a very effective dessicant, It absorbs alot of moisture from the surrounding air. I suppose it can help the drying process. Its mainly used to preserve seeds and bud for a long period of time. Seeds can be stored for up to 10 years when stored with silica. I dont know what silica sand is but i use silica gel.

You wanna dry your bud slow, so the chloraphyll breaks down and you don't get that grassy smelling and tasting weed. I hang for a few days till the outside is somewhat dry but the inside is moist and spongy then I put them in paper bags (keeps higher humidity so it takes longer to dry) and air them out once a day (still on large branches) until the stem almost snaps then I put them in jars and open them once or twice a day, then once a week, and then I'll seal em.

actually this is a very good idea, i think i am going to give it a try as well......silica is being used to absorb moisture.....ie there was a small bag with silica balls in the box contained my hard disk when i bought it.....you do not have to rub the buds with silica sand.....i suppose all you have to do is, hang the buds upside down in a cool dark room with silica gel/sand/balls around and that substance will absorb the moisture coming of the buds.....in theory should work.....will definately give it a shot when the time comes...yet, i am still far away from harvesting my ladies :(

No, I think it's a bad idea. All you're doing is lowering humidity by using desiccant. Your buds will dry faster but will be of lower quality. Quality takes time, it should take a week to dry and 3-5 week cure. If you're aiming for speed then yeah it'll work, so will sticking it in the oven for a short time, or putting a fan on it to speed dry, but the weed will end up with a grassy smell and taste since the chloraphyll won't have time to break down. You can do it quick and end up with smokables but if I'm gonna take the time and risk to grow and the money to buy quality strains, I'm gonna take the time to do it right.

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Originally Posted by newgroweroldsmoker

actually this is a very good idea, i think i am going to give it a try as well......silica is being used to absorb moisture.....ie there was a small bag with silica balls in the box contained my hard disk when i bought it.....you do not have to rub the buds with silica sand.....i suppose all you have to do is, hang the buds upside down in a cool dark room with silica gel/sand/balls around and that substance will absorb the moisture coming of the buds.....in theory should work.....will definately give it a shot when the time comes...yet, i am still far away from harvesting my ladies :(

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That would be a bad idea. You want to dry the buds slowly, so that the sugars convert into starches, which creates a smooth, quality smoke. Using silica, would not be beneficial at all.