Most new cannabis cultivators think that their responsibility is only bounded by careful cultivation and harvest. Unfortunately, this is not the actual case. It could take a bit longer before you can fully relish the results of your hard work. Your harvests should undergo trimming, drying, and curing before they become ready for consumption.
The importance of drying cannabis is directly felt by the lungs the moment you consume its flowers. Curing amplifies the potency of the bud and at the same time improves its taste. Technically, it is up to the grower if he chooses to do the curing process or not. Nevertheless, drying cannabis is something you cannot skip. It is then important that you learn how to dry cannabis the easy way.
Easy Way of Drying Cannabis
It would be practical to say that the easiest and most effective way of drying cannabis is through the traditional approach. But how do you do it?
Step 1
First, slash 12-inch branches from the cannabis plants. Cut down the undesirable leaves and suspend the branches for 7 to 10 days in a dark area. You can use coat hangers or utilize string pieces. You do not have to spend more on high-priced equipment provided you have sufficient space where you can suspend the plants.
Depending on the volume of your harvest as well as the humidity level of your environment, there might be a requirement to cut less or more at a time. You will want to be on-track with the ideal 7 to 10 days drying period. Remember that the larger your buds are, the longer it will take to dry them. Surely, you do not like to delay their drying or dry them too fast.
Step 2
The most important element in drying cannabis is to make sure that the storage area has suitable humidity and temperature levels. Maintain a temperature that is between the range of 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the humidity level at 45 to 55 percent.
You can utilize a small fan to help with air circulation. However, do not place it straightly pointing to the weed. If you have a hard time maintaining the proper humidity and temperature levels, you can use an air-conditioning unit or buy a humidifier.
Step 3
Suspend the buds upside down. An alternative way is to lay them flat on cardboard if you have a concern about space. If you choose to do the alternative method, see to it that you turn your buds to another side every several hours to prevent wet areas.
Regularly check the buds. It is important that you get easy access to the grow room. You can opt to buy a specialized drying rack if you have the budget. This will help dry the buds faster compared to using a clothes hanger. This is because you mostly eliminate the moisture-weighted stems away from the buds. If you are living in a place with too much humidity, mold will be a prominent concern. If that is the case, it will be smart to purchase this rack.
Step 4
Wait for the buds to get completely dry, under the preferable conditions, until such time that they qualify for the snap test. It is important that you do not scramble this step.
As mentioned, you can expect your buds to become fully dried after 7 to 10 days depending on the status of your storage area. However, if they get dried faster than the average number of days, you can still do the curing process, however, that process will have to consume a longer period.
The moment the buds are set for curing, you can break off the tiniest buds by putting little pressure. You might encounter bigger stems that are a bit bendy; this could mean that there is moisture kept inside. But this is not something you should be worried about since curing triggers the concealed water to find its path out of the buds.
You can put the branches in containers with the bin ceased overnight if you have a big crop. Each day, shove your hand to the base of the container. If you notice that there is more moisture occurring at the bottom compared to the top, toss over the branches. The moment you get the same feeling of moisture in the bottom and the top part, you can finally put on the lids.
If you are using a drying rack and let the bud dry by themselves; it is suggested that you keep several inches of stem connected. A lot of cultivators will dry until such time that the outside part of the buds would already feel dry, however, this can be a pricey mistake.
It can be very erroneous if you judge the dryness of your buds based on how they would feel. Remember that the buds keep most of their moisture within their framework. Your buds may feel completely dry if touched only to discover that they are still very wet after several days in the jar.
Step 5
Test the dryness of your buds. You can get one of the larger buds and place it in a bag or a small jar. After one hour, go back and check if there are any traces of moisture inside the bag or if the bud feels damp when touched. If you notice any of these manifestations, you would know that it requires more drying.
Conclusion
Drying cannabis buds is essential and it is something you should embrace. Otherwise, you won’t be able to enjoy your end product at its fullest. It is an easy process. All you have to secure is a storage area with appropriate temperature and humidity and definitely, patience!
It would be up to you if you will choose to wait for another week to do the curing process. If you wish to use your weed after the drying process, then you can do so. However, it is still advised that you do curing for you to appreciate its best potency and flavor.
