If you have put in the long hours and hard work and nurtured your cannabis plants to the flowering stage, then now it’s time to harvest and dry your buds, but how?
Today we’ll break down the process of Harvesting, Drying and Curing your Cannabis Plants.
If you’re new to growing and harvesting your own cannabis, you’re forgiven for not knowing exactly how to get those big buds into the tight and delicious smelling buds you see at your local dispensary.
Let’s Make One Thing Clear! Harvesting, Crying, and Curing cannabis takes effort and care.
Growing your own cannabis can be extremely rewarding, if you care for your plants from seed to sack. Get this last part wrong, and all your hard work goes down the drain.
While many people start off growing their own cannabis to save a few dollars, for most, it turns into an exciting hobby or pastime. So, it makes sense that you want to be the best at every stage of the growing operation and that includes harvesting and drying your cannabis plants.
Harvesting Your Cannabis Plants: Should You Let Them Die On The Branch, Or Cut And Trim The Plants Before Hanging?
Many growers have their own techniques and methods for cutting and hanging their buds for the drying progress.
Some growers like to cut the whole plant down at the base and hang the entire plant.
Others prefer to cut individual branches and hang them, while some growers will cut individual buds and dry them on racks.
Some growers like to trim their buds before they cut them or cut large leaves away from the plant.
The more leaves you trim away from your buds, the better the overall appearance of the buds will be after they dry.
How To Dry Cannabis Properly. What’s The Best Drying Technique?
If you want to get the most out of your hard work and freshly grown buds, then it’s important to take your time during the curing process.
Curing the buds involves allowing the buds to first go through the drying stage.
Drying your buds can be done in a room with a controlled environment. The best drying temperatures for drying cannabis buds is room temperature of approximately 70.F with 50% humidity.
When it comes to drying your buds, again there are a lot of different options. A lot of the different hanging techniques come down to space, time, and personal preferences.
You can hang individual buds after you trim them, lay buds down on racks and allow them to dry, or you can buy specialty drying racks or bags.
If you don’t have a lot of room, one of the vertical drying bags could be the best option for you.
Also, remember that as the buds dry, there is going to be a strong smell of cannabis. If you’re trying to keep the grow quiet or stealthy, this is another factor to consider.
One of the most important things you need to avoid when you are drying your buds is humidity. Excess humidity can ruin your buds and lead to mold and other bacteria forming on the buds. You want to dry your buds until the outside of the buds feels dry to the touch, or the stems snap instead of just bending.
How To Cure Cannabis Properly. A Curing Process To Follow For Perfect Buds
When it comes time to cure your cannabis buds, you’re going to want to invest in some glass mason jars.
Curing your buds after drying means you’ll be able to unleash the full potential of your cannabis.
When you fill the mason jars with buds, you’ll want to make sure that you only fill them about ¾ full. When you put the buds in the jar with the lids on, you should be able to freely shake the buds without them sticking together.
When you put the buds in the jar with the lids on, you should be able to freely shake the buds without them sticking together.
If they are sticking together, then they may need a little more drying time. If you’re worried about the humidity inside the jars, then a hygrometer could be a valuable investment.
How long should I cure for?
How long you cure is up to you, but most growers like to allow at least 1-2 weeks of curing time.
For the first few days when the buds go into the jar, check them once or twice a day to ensure there is no mold. After 1-2 weeks you can store your buds in the mason jars but be sure to open them regularly to ensure they don’t go moldy.
Curing will help to boost the potency, aroma, and smoking experience of your buds. You could smoke them straight off the plant, or as soon as you dry them, but curing unlocks the full potential of the cannabis.
Try sampling your buds at different stages of curing and see if you can tell the difference.