Drying buds how long

Step 4: After two weeks or so, you only need to open the curing containers about once per week, not daily. The longer you cure them this way, the better the buds up to about six months. You can always sample small amounts during your curing process to see if you think your product is ready for market. If you leave them curing for a few days, often this will draw the moisture from inside the bud to the surface and make it feel less parched.

If after a few days they still seem dry and you think you might have overdried them, there is a way you can rehydrate. Stick one of these packs in the curing container along with your buds and it will raise the humidity to 62 percent, which should add a little moisture to the buds.

You could also consider using a leaf of lettuce or kale, even a wet napkin or paper towel. If you grow in a very dry, low humidity environment and the humidity inside your containers is consistently low, you can reuse the same packs throughout the curing process. Properly drying and curing your buds is like a painter putting the finishing strokes to a piece of art: It can and will greatly increase the value of your final product.

When it comes to drying and curing, it pays to plan ahead and take your time. In short, take the proper time and care to do this right, so that you may make the most of your harvest and bring the best buds possible to market. Did You Enjoy This Article? If you liked this article, then you will love the Advanced Nutrients newsletter.

Fill out the subscription form on this page to join our newsletter now! Since , Advanced Nutrients has been committed to educating the community and bringing the most up-to-date knowledge to the forefront of grows across the globe. Next Post Previous Post. In many ways, drying and curing buds is one of the most important steps to a successful harvest. Make sure you only trim and process them when thoroughly dry.

Dry trimming is preferable on a commercial scale, but many home growers opt for the easier method of wet trimming. No matter which method you use, make sure you get rid of the larger fan leaves to improve the appearance of the buds. Also, your marijuana will become harsher to smoke if you allow too much leafy matter to survive.

The most crucial aspect of proper drying is to ensure your storage room is at the right temperature and humidity levels.

Are you having problems keeping the temperature and humidity levels at the recommended ranges? If so, purchase a humidifier or dehumidifier if necessary or an air-conditioning unit. However, you can also lay them down flat on a surface such as cardboard if space is an issue.

If you do this, make sure you turn the buds every few hours to avoid wet spots. Also, as you have to check on your buds daily, make sure your grow room is easy to access. You can purchase a specialized drying rack if you have the extra cash, which will dry your buds faster than the clothes hanger method. This is mainly because you remove the moisture-laden stems from the buds. If you live in an excessively humid area, mold is going to be a problem.

In this scenario, it is wise to invest in a rack. Depending on the conditions of the storage room, you should have fully dry buds in days.

You can still cure them if they are dried faster, although that particular process will take longer. Once the buds are ready for curing , you can snap off the smallest buds by applying minimal pressure. You may feel slightly bendy larger stems, which means there is still moisture inside.

If you have a large crop, you can place the branches in bins with the lids left off overnight. Every day, slide your hand to the bottom of the bin. If there is more moisture than on the top, flip the branches over. Once the bottom feels the same as the top, you can put the lids on the containers. However, if you grew nugs outside that look bushy, pressing them will improve their appearance.

It is best to perform this practice days after hanging them because you want slightly moist marijuana. Place the buds in plastic bags, roll them up, and squeeze them. Place the bags beneath pillows or something similar for a few hours. Be careful when pressing marijuana. After a few hours, take the cannabis out of the bags.

Separate them and return them to the hangers to complete the drying process. Ideally, you will have completed this step already. You have put so much effort into the process that it would be a shame to get it wrong now.

From now on, your primary goal is to ensure that your cannabis buds are stored in a controlled environment. At this moisture level, the buds will feel dry on the outside but still have a softness to them. Wide-mouth mason jars are by far the best storage containers for marijuana. You can find them online or even at Walmart! Purchase 32 oz jars as they can hold up to 1. You could invest in larger jars, but with this, you increase the risk of mold growth.

You want to leave a little air at the top and avoid crushing the buds. You need to shake the jar now and then. Other storage options include wooden, metal, or plastic vessels. To know if the buds are ready, take a small branch and bend it. If the branch snaps, the buds are dry and ready to cure.

If the branch bends or leaves stringy plant residue behind, continue the drying process. Buds separated from their stems are dry enough when they feel dry to the touch.

By checking this box you consent to Weedmaps' collection of your email address for the limited purpose of subscribing to Weedmaps' email communications. The information contained in this site is provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as medical or legal advice. This page was last updated on July 9, Home Order Online New. Skip to content Harvest time arrives, and your beautiful buds are enormous, frosty with trichomes, and practically begging to be smoked.

Why is drying weed important? Drying cannabis removes the majority of water content from your flower. Was this article helpful? During the first week of curing, regardless of humidity level, open the containers once or twice a day for a couple minutes—this is called burping. This releases moisture and replenishes oxygen inside the container. If you notice an odor of ammonia when opening a container, it means the buds are not dry enough and anaerobic bacteria are consuming them, which will lead to moldy, rotten cannabis.

Leave the lid off for a day and reseal tomorrow. After two to four weeks in containers, your cannabis should be cured enough to give you a flavorful, aromatic, and quality experience. Some people prefer to cure for four to eight weeks, and some strains even benefit from six months or more of curing. After curing cannabis, you can store buds for up to two years without much loss of potency. Excessive heat can dry out cannabinoids and terpenes that have taken months to develop. When these essential oils get too dry along with plant material, it can result in a hot, harsh smoke.

Additionally, warm air holds more moisture than cold air. Humidity control is paramount to keeping mildew and other mold contaminants out of your cannabis.