OK - what is water cure???
@TheMasterBlaster, water curing is taking freshly harvested and trimmed bud, put it in a jar,or larger container such as an ice chest if you have more, and covering in water. Every day for 5-7 days you change the water. You use room temp water, as cold water can cause trichomes to break off. Chlorophyll, etc. transfers into the water, which you change one or more times a day, so it doesn't transfer back, get moldy, etc. After a week of changing the water, drain, spin in salad spinner to get out water, hang to dry for another week.
That's it. Ready to vape.
This is a faster cure than the more usual hang to dry for a week, jar, burp twice a day for weeks, and whatever your usual is. You get vapable bud sooner. The taste is smooth, clean. There is much less smell when you vape water cured. This method is great if you want stealth bud for vaping in public, if you vape around people who don't like the smell of vapor, you want exceptionally smooth vapor, you want to use part of your crop before the longer air curing is done.
@adamster, I tried water curing, and was pleased with the result. My bud stayed frosty, and didn't appear to lose trichomes. It tasted smooth, light, fresh. I tried four different strains, and they all turned out well. I wouldn't do an entire crop, but plan to do some of each plant in the future. As I both air cured and water cured, I was able to compare for potency, and there was no loss as far as I could tell. There was less smell when vaping. I'd recommend washing first, but I'd recommend washing before air drying after seeing how much came out in the water.
I also water cured some air dried bud I didn't care for the taste of (Purple Pineapple Express) and wanted to mellow out. Same process, just toss in dry, not fresh. Worked ok. I don't know if I'll do it again, but it was a strain I didn't care for either way. It did taste better after water curing.
I'm planning on water curing trim before decarbing and making onto elixer, butter, to see how that works. Works with my ABV, so I'm expecting a good outcome.
This isn't for everyone, and I'm not saying anyone has to do it. You can throw your weed in the washer and dryer, blast it with a garden hose, then microwave it, run it through a car wash, throw it on the roof ( I'm not recommending these methods). Doesn't matter to me. I know some people get upset over the idea of water curing. Do whatever makes you happy, but it worked for me and I enjoy the option.