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Drying your cannabis correctly is crucial for preserving both its potency and aroma. Check out our tips on how to get it right, every time.
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The Different Ways to Dry Your Cannabis
Cannabis needs to be dried out properly before consumption, and there are a few different ways that you can go about doing this. The most common method is to simply hang your cannabis up to dry, but this isn’t always the best method, especially if you’re in a hurry. Let’s take a look at a few different ways to dry out your cannabis.
Air Drying
Air drying is the most common way to dry cannabis. It’s simple and doesn’t require any special equipment. All you need is a dark, dry room with good ventilation and a place to hang your plants upside down.
Your plants will take anywhere from 5 to 14 days to fully dry, depending on the humidity and temperature of your room. Be patient—rushing the drying process can result in lower-quality bud.
To air dry your cannabis, start by cutting down your plants and removing any large fan leaves. Cut or twist the branches into manageable pieces and hang them upside down in your dark, dry room. Keep an eye on the buds and remove any that start to look moldy or developed mildew.
Once your buds are dry to the touch, they’re ready to be trimmed and jarred (or smoked).
Drying with a Dehumidifier
If you live in a wet or humid climate, then drying your cannabis with a dehumidifier is an excellent way to keep your weed dry. Dehumidifiers are designed to remove moisture from the air, which will help to prevent your weed from molding or mildewing.
To dry your cannabis with a dehumidifier, simply place the unit in a room where you will be storing your weed. You will want to make sure that the room is well-ventilated so that the dehumidifier can work properly. Depending on the size of the unit, you may need to leave it on for 24 hours or more.
Once you have dried your weed with a dehumidifier, it is important to store it in an airtight container so that it does not absorb moisture from the air again.
Drying with a Fan
Drying with a fan is one of the quickest ways to dry your cannabis, but it also carries a few risks. If you’re not careful, your cannabis can end up drying too quickly and becoming overly harsh. Here’s how to dry your cannabis with a fan:
1. Hang your cannabis plants upside down in a dark, well-ventilated room.
2. Place a fan on the floor so that it’s blowing directly up at the plants.
3. Leave the fan on for 12 hours a day until the plants are completely dry.
One of the key things to remember when drying with a fan is to keep an eye on the humidity level in the room. If the room is too humid, your plants will dry too slowly and could develop mold or mildew. Aim for a humidity level between 40-60%.
The Different Ways to Cure Your Cannabis
The curing process is important if you want to improve the taste, smell, and overall quality of your cannabis. Depending on your method, the curing process can take anywhere from two weeks to six weeks. There are a few different ways that you can cure your cannabis, so let’s take a look at each method.
Curing in Glass Jars
Curing in glass jars is a popular way to store your buds long term. It’s also a great way to get rid of that pesky “new car smell” that some cannabis has. Curing allows the chlorophyll in the plant to break down and gives the cannabis time to develop its full aroma and flavor potential.
To cure your weed in glass jars, start by trimming your buds and placing them in the jar. Fill the jar about halfway with buds, then add a small amount of water so that the bottom of the jar is moist but not wet. Once a week, open the jar for 5-10 minutes to allow the buds to “breathe” and prevent them from molding. After 6-8 weeks, your weed should be cured and ready to smoke!
Curing in Mason Jars
Curing in mason jars is the most common form of curing and is likely the method you will use if you plan to cure your cannabis long-term. Curing in mason jars allows you to keep a consistent temperature and humidity level, which is important for preventing mold and degradation of your cannabis.
To cure in mason jars, you will need to purchase some mason jars, a hygrometer, and some sort of humidity control device such as Boveda packs. Boveda packs are small packets that you can purchase online or at most smoke shops which help to regulate the relative humidity (RH) inside of your curing jar.
Once you have your supplies, follow these steps:
1. Trim and dry your cannabis as usual. Be sure to remove all large fan leaves and trim off any excess stem. Your goal should be to have only small budlets and sugar leaves remaining.
2. Place your buds in the mason jar, filling it no more than 3/4 full. If you are using Boveda packs, add two per jar. If you are not using Boveda Packs, leave the lid slightly ajar.
3. Check on your buds daily, removing the lid to allow fresh air in. If you are not using Boveda packs, you will need to do this more often (at least twice per day). Check the RH with your hygrometer and add more Boveda packs as needed to maintain a RH of 55-65%.
4. After 7-10 days, your cannabis should be cured and ready to enjoy!
Curing in Ziploc Bags
Curing in Ziploc bags is an excellent method for those looking to achieve quick, consistent results without any fancy equipment. Simply hang your cannabis upside down in a cool, dark room for a few days to allow the chlorophyll to break down, then seal it in a Ziploc bag with a small amount of moisture-absorbing material (like a silica gel packet) and let it sit for another week or two.
The only potential downside to this method is that your cannabis may not cure evenly if there are large differences in size and density between nugs, so be sure to check on it every few days and rotate the buds around if necessary.
Other methods of curing include:
-The Wet Curing Method: This method involves sealing your cannabis in a glass jar with a small amount of water (usually around an ounce) and letting it sit for 2-3 weeks. The water will gradually evaporate and be replaced by THC-laden moisture, resulting in extremely potent buds.
-The Dry Curing Method: This method is similar to the wet curing method, but instead of water, you’ll use dry ice. Simply place your cannabis in a glass jar with some dry ice (1-2 ounces should suffice), seal it up, and let it sit for 24 hours. The dry ice will sublimate (turn from a solid to a gas) and suck all the moisture out of the air, leaving you with perfectly cured buds.
The Different Ways to Store Your Cannabis
There are multiple ways to store your cannabis once it has been dried, and the method you choose depends on your personal preferences. You can store your cannabis in an airtight container, mason jar, or plastic bag. The most important thing is to keep your cannabis in a cool, dark place to prevent it from drying out or becoming moldy.
Storing in Glass Jars
Glass jars are great for long-term storage of cannabis. They protect your weed from light, which is essential for maintaining THC levels, and they create an airtight seal that prevents your product from drying out. We recommend using a mason jar with a tight-fitting lid. If you’re storing a large amount of weed, you can also use a food-grade plastic container.
Storing in Mason Jars
Mason jars are great for long-term storage because they’re airtight. That means your cannabis will stay nice and fresh for a long time. Just make sure to put the lid on loosely so that some air can still circulate. You don’t want your cannabis to get too moist, or it will start to mildew.
Storing in Ziploc Bags
Storing your cannabis in Ziploc bags is one of the most common and easy ways to keep your weed fresh. All you need is a Ziploc bag and some tissue paper. First, make sure that your cannabis is completely dry by hanging it upside down in a cool, dark, and dry place for at least 24 hours. Once it is dry, place it in the Ziploc bag with a piece of tissue paper and squeeze out as much air from the bag as possible before sealing it shut.
Check on your cannabis every few days to make sure that the tissue paper is not too damp. You can also add a desiccant packet to the bag to help absorb any moisture. These packets are often found in new pairs of shoes or electronics and can be purchased online or at many drug stores.
