Harvest preferences - substrate/trim wet or dry

I harvest from moist substrate and now only ever dry trim. Letting the plants dry out in the pots would stress them and the most important thing you want to avoid right before harvest, is stress. Harvesting from very wet substrate can cause over hydrated buds that are then more likely to develop rot problems when drying. The difference between dry substrate and moist substrate vs drying time is insignificant. The most critical things when drying are temps and air circulation. Too much of either and crispy bland buds result. Not enough of either and you risk rot, so it is a balancing act - lower temps need more air flow and higher temps less air flow. Drying should take 7-10 days, if they are crisping up after 3 days, change something, if they are still soggy after 7 days, change something. ALWAYS dry in a dark environment, drying buds in direct light will degrade THC quite quickly. Wet trimming forces the plant to lose all its moisture through the buds, significantly altering terpene quality and degrading cannabinoids too. Wet trimming may seem easier, but for top quality, dry trim. Drying plants whole takes longer. Cutting off the branches makes drying easier and the branches dry more evenly when cut off. I use wire coat hanger to drape the branches on and it works a treat. Extended periods of darkness before harvest is BS and has no scientific merit, it is pure "bro science". Same goes for any theories involving the use of boiling water or ice/cold water treatments. Harvesting in the morning or within about 2-3 hours of the lights coming on will provide the tastiest buds in my experience, the plants terpenes have been "recharged" overnight and have not yet been evaporated off/reduced by 6+ hours of light/sun. At this time the plants metabolism is at its peak freshness/activity, so it follows that the compounds in the cannabinoids will also be at their peak quality. I have done numerous experiments with harvest timing (morning, afternoon, night, evening, pre-dawn - you name it!) and stand firmly by the 2-3 hours after sun up/lights on time frame and if I can't harvest then, I will wait another day until I can, so strongly I believe in this principle. They way I see it, you want to harvest the happiest and least stressed plant possible. Anything that would risk altering this peak happiness and least stress goal (darkness, boiling water, ice water, over dry substrate etc), is to be avoided. Just a happy healthy plant enjoying life, then without any bad vibes - chop - then thank the plant Gods for your bounty! Those are my opinions based on 35+ years of growing, research and real world experimentation, but what would I know? Hope this helps, Organoman.