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How long does it take to cure cannabis? It really depends on the method you choose and how long you’re willing to wait.
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The Length of Time It Takes to Cure Cannabis Depends on the Strain
Cannabis curing is the process of reducing the moisture content in your buds. This is done to improve the flavor, smell, and overall quality of your weed. The time it takes to cure cannabis can range from a few days to a few months, depending on the strain.
Indica Strains
Indica strains typically take between 45 and 60 days to fully cure. The process is shorter for indica strains than it is for sativa strains because they contain less water. However, the shorter curing process can result in a less potent product. For this reason, some growers prefer to cure their indica strains for longer periods of time, sometimes up to 90 days.
Sativa Strains
Sativa strains take anywhere from ten to sixteen weeks to fully cure. Depending on the growers preference, they may be ready to harvest after only ten weeks, but the higher quality buds will often require the full sixteen weeks.
Hybrid Strains
Hybrid strains are a mix of two or more cannabis strains, usually indica and sativa. They offer the best of both worlds, with the THC levels of sativas and the CBD levels of indicas. This means that they can be used for both medical and recreational purposes. The length of time it takes to cure hybrid cannabis strains depends on the balance of sativa and indica in the strain.
The Curing Process
Curing your cannabis properly is important to ensure the quality of your final product. The curing process can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks, depending on the method you use. The most important factor in determining the length of the curing process is the temperature and humidity of your curing environment.
Drying
Drying is the process of removing water content from the freshly harvested plant material. It can be done using a number of methods, including air drying, which is the most common, or using a drying rack or food dehydrator. The goal is to get the material down to about 60% moisture content, which can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks.
Curing
After your cannabis is dry, it’s time to cure it. Curing is the process of allowing the dried cannabis to age in order to improve its smokeability and taste. It also gives the buds a chance to increase in potency.
Ideally, you should cure your cannabis in a glass jar. Place your buds in the jar, making sure not to pack them too tightly. Every few days, open the jar to allow fresh air in. After about two weeks, your cannabis should be cured and ready to enjoy!
The Benefits of Curing Cannabis
The curing process allows the plant to continue to convert chlorophyll into other cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBN. This process also helps to improve the taste, smell, and overall quality of the final product. Curing cannabis also makes it easier to store for extended periods of time without losing potency or freshness.
Improved Flavor
Curing your cannabis is an important step in the process of enjoying your home-grown weed. When done correctly, it can improve the taste and smell of your bud, as well as increase its potency. While curing may seem like a hassle, it’s actually a pretty simple process that only requires a bit of patience.
The benefits of curing cannabis are many, but the most important ones are improved flavor and increased potency. Curing allows the chlorophyll in the plant to break down, which gives the weed a smoother flavor. Additionally, THC degrades into other cannabinoids during the curing process, resulting in higher potency.
Enhanced Potency
Curing cannabis properly results in enhanced potency. THC and other cannabinoids degrade quickly when exposed to oxygen, heat, or light. When these degrading conditions are avoided, the THC and other cannabinoids remain intact and potent.
Curing also enables the degradation of chlorophyll in the plant material. Chlorophyll is a common culprit for the “plant-like” taste and smell of fresh cannabis. By allowing chlorophyll to degrade naturally, the final product is less bitter and has a more pleasant taste.
Increased Shelf Life
Curing cannabis improves its potency, flavor, and smell. It also gives the flowers a much-desired glossy sheen. Most importantly, though, curing allows for proper long-term storage of your buds so that they retain their original qualities for months—even up to a year or more.
