The greatest cannabis is the result of top genetics, inventive cultivation, timely trimming, and a thorough curing process.
When it comes to generating a smooth, aromatic smoke, a thorough curing procedure is essential.
What Is Curing Cannabis?
In order to regulate the moisture level and enable the decomposition of carbohydrates and chlorophyll before ingestion, the collected plant material is aged or dried. Cannabis, hemp, sagebrush, bay leaves, tea leaves, and tobacco are all examples of plants that have been cured.
When it comes to cannabis production, the curing process results in a more flavorful, purer vapor as well as a better smoking experience. As long as it's done properly, it guarantees that the bud has a moisture level that prevents mold and other diseases from growing.
Benefits to Properly Curing Cannabis
For the greatest results, each vegetable must be cured in a unique way. What matters most is that you safeguard your product while maintaining its taste, nutrients, as well as cannabinoids.
Before cannabinoids and terpenes may evaporate or convert, proper curing is necessary.
Enzymes and aerobic bacteria break down surplus sugars and starches after harvest, and the plant starts to decompose. Preventing sugars, carbohydrates, and nutrients from drying up and becoming trapped within the plant is one of the primary goals of curing cannabis.
Curing cannabis also helps commercial farmers get more use out of their product. Mold and mildew may grow on uncured marijuana. This is particularly true if you don't have a way to ventilate your cannabis storage facility.
Ways To Cure Cannabis
There are a variety of ways to cure cannabis, and it's best to experiment with a few tiny batches before deciding on the best approach for you. Trimming your crop is the first step, regardless of how it is dried. Following the removal of your plant:
- Trim the bud ends to provide a uniform drying process.
- A few leaves on the buds will keep them from drying out too rapidly if you reside in a dry environment.
- The buds should be removed and all leaves trimmed if you are growing in a humid region.
As soon as you've finished trimming your plants, it's time to figure out how you're going to cure your marijuana. The following are a few ideas:
- It's time to hang up your buds!
- Different techniques of generating heat
- Jars of cures
- Water-based cures
- Buds that mature quickly
While there are advantages and disadvantages to every approach, these are the most often used. To avoid ruining your harvest at the last minute, follow these simple guidelines. Taking the time to cure your cannabis can improve its shelf life and make it easier to store.
Burp your buds
Burping refers to the process of opening the containers once or twice a day for a few minutes during the first week of the curing process. This should be done regardless of the humidity level in the room. This causes the container's air to become more oxygenated while also releasing some moisture.
When you open a jar of cannabis and detect the smell of ammonia, this indicates that the buds have not been allowed to properly dry and that anaerobic bacteria are eating them. This will result in cannabis that has become moldy and spoiled. Take the cap off for the rest of the day and replace it the next day.
Once the first week has passed, you should only burp the containers once every several days.
How to store your harvested cannabis buds
After the cannabis has been cured, the buds may be stored for up to two years without losing much of their strength. Mildew and other molds on cannabis and organic matter grow at temperatures between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Storing properly dried and cured cannabis in a cold, dark environment is ideal for preserving its quality, much like storing a good wine or whiskey barrel.
Cannabinoids and terpenes that have taken many months to mature may be destroyed by heat that is too high. When these essential oils, along with the plant material, are allowed to get too dry, a scorching and unpleasant smoke may be produced.
Here are some guidelines for preserving buds:
- Place in a dark, cold, and dry location away from direct sunlight.
- Keep in unassuming storage vessels, such as mason jars made of glass.
- Monitor and maintain appropriate humidity levels with the use of hygrometers and other tools, such as a Boveda pack.
- Sealing jars and containers with a vacuum will reduce the amount of oxygen that can get in.
- Keep strains separate to preserve their own taste characteristics and identify them with the current date; it's a bad idea to combine strains.
Temperature
Decarboxylation, the process by which THCA is transformed into the psychoactive THC, is slowed down when temperatures are low. CBN is a cannabinoid that is produced when THC is broken down over time. CBN has distinct effects and qualities than THC. Furthermore, warm air is capable of holding far more moisture than cold air.
Humidity
When it comes to preventing mildew and other mold pollutants from growing in your cannabis crop, humidity management is of the utmost importance. When storing cannabis, keep it at a relative humidity of between 55 and 65 percent so that its color, consistency, fragrance, and taste are preserved and enhanced.
Light
Cannabis, like many organic and synthetic materials, will eventually disintegrate when exposed to the harmful UV rays that are emitted by the sun. The temperature of cannabis may be better managed if it is kept out of the direct glare of the sun.
What does curing do to weed?
Curing helps finish off the buds, increasing both their flavor and their aroma in the process. During the curing process, chlorophyll continues to degrade, which eliminates any trace of a vegetal flavor; in its absence, weed would have the flavor of a newly mowed grass. Because of this reduction in chlorophyll, the smoke from smoked buds is less abrasive and more refined.
How long does it take for cannabis to dry?
Drying time ranges from 2 to 7 days. Wet pruning normally takes less time since most of the plant material is removed early and there is less plant to dry.
When dry trimming cannabis, hang harvested plants upside down on a line or hanger, either entire plants or branches—this prevents buds from flattening or becoming deformed as they dry.
When wet trimming, the clipped buds are placed on a drying rack.
Check drying buds or branches after two days, whether wet or dry pruning, by bending a branch or stem—if the stem breaks, the buds are entirely dry. If they do not snap, leave them alone and return the following day.
What factors contribute to an excellent drying room?
An ideal drying room should be dark, with temperatures ranging from 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity levels ranging from 55 to 65 percent. A low-cost hygrometer will assist you in keeping track of these figures.
You may be restricted in what you may use for a drying room depending on your home or land. Recognize that controlling temperature and humidity in large spaces may be difficult. Also, be aware that the room will smell strongly like marijuana. Make certain that the location you choose does not have significant temperature and humidity variations.
Install a modest fan to circulate air, and you may also need to install a dehumidifier or air conditioner. If your area is taking too long to dry blossoms, you may need to modify the temperature or humidity to speed up the drying process.
A drying chamber should be as dark as possible.
Because UV rays from sunshine may harm cannabis, keep your drying area dark. Cover your buds if you don't have a light-tight environment.
It's OK to open the door and check on the buds, but excessive light exposure will hasten drying.
How long does it take to cure cannabis?
Your cannabis should have been cured enough after spending two to four weeks in containers in order to provide you with a tasty, fragrant, and high-quality experience. Some individuals choose to cure their strains for four to eight weeks, while others believe that curing their strains for six months or more is optimal.