dry or wet trim?

When wet the leaves are standing out and easier to remove cleanly. Also with a wet plant it can be handled more without knocking off trichomes. Then after the plant comes out of the dryer you can do a final touch-up if you want before starting the curing process. In most cases I have not had enough leaves left at the end that they have a major affect on drying. It is not an ear of corn completely encased in leaves. The leaves do slow the drying and offer another avenue for moisture to escape but I've never found it to be a huge difference. The biggest issue is that trimming is a big job. Do it when it is easiest for you. If hand trimming I vote do it wet. If trimming mechanically dry is often easier for the machine.

Dry trim, wet trimming means the water/moisture must come out through the buds only and this seems to take some of the terpenes away too. If the leaves are left on while drying, most of the water/moisture goes out through them, leaving more terpenes in the buds. Cutting the plant up into individual branches makes for easier, faster and more even drying. The leaves also protect the dry buds and help prevent the trichomes from being knocked off. I usually dry trim (manicure) right before consumption and store my buds with most of the leaves left on and only remove the fan leaves from the dried buds, otherwise the buds are too hard to get them into the jars. If you live in an area where cannabis is illegal, manicured buds could be construed as being "ready for commercial sale" whereas untrimmed buds allows you to argue that they are only for personal use. This alone could be a deciding factor in wet versus dry trimming. Hope this helps, Organoman.

In my opinion dry trimming only if you dry outdoor and with high temps and low humidity like in the middle of the summer, to slow down a little the drying process. In all the other cases I would go for WET TRIMMING, less mold risk and easier to do.