Curing is a valuable post-harvest step that adds further value to the quality of the final product for both marijuana and hemp smokable flower producers.
Cultivaris’ automated method allows the company to dry and cure 1,200-1,800 pounds of wet-bucked flower in just 14 days.
Curing facilitates the distribution of moisture and humidity throughout a batch of dried flowers or other plant material held in a container. Conditions in the environment must be strictly controlled.
To enhance their aroma and flavour, cannabis buds benefit from a curing process that accelerates the breakdown of byproducts left behind in the buds after harvest.
Cannabidiol: What Is It Good For?
Curing is the process of curing or drying harvested plant material before to consumption, during which the moisture content can be fine-tuned and sugars and chlorophyll can degrade.
Curing cannabis results in a more refined product that is easier on the lungs and has a more robust flavour. If done properly, it keeps the bud at an optimal moisture level, where mould and other infections can’t grow.
Insights Into the Significance of Cannabis Curing
- Maybe the most undervalued part of cannabis cultivation is the curing stage. Moisture continues to move from the interior of the bud to the exterior as it cures.
- The smoke’s aroma and taste are both improved by curing. Terpenes can be better preserved with a slow cure at low temperatures as opposed to a fast dry at high temperatures.
- With a good cure, your weed will be mould- and cannabinoid- and terpene-resistant for long-term storage. The well-cured flower has a shelf life of up to two years when stored in an airtight container in a cold, dark environment.
When Cannabis Is Cured, What Changes?
Curing helps put the finishing touches on buds, elevating their aroma and flavour. Without the curing process, the weed would have the flavour of a recently mowed lawn. The elimination of chlorophyll softens and smoothes out the smoke of the buds.
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All the Gear We’ll Need to Cure Cannabis
It’s not recommended to cure cannabis in a damp, wet cellar or a hot, stuffy attic. The environment shouldn’t be excessively dry or overly humid; rather, it should be at a constant, comfortable temperature.
Because terpenes are sensitive to light, it’s best if you can either keep the lights out or keep the jars covered.
The Process of Curing Cannabis Buds
It is time to cure the buds once they have dried out.
- Store the trimmed buds in a container that prevents air from escaping. Typical containers are quart or half-gallon glass mason jars with wide mouths; however, other materials such as ceramic, metal, and even wood can be used instead.
- Plastic bags are not suitable for curing since they let oxygen in. Also, cannabis that has a plastic flavour is not desirable.
- Do not crush or compact the buds while packing them in containers. Maintain a cool, dry, and dark environment for storage.
- After a day or two, the outer layers of the buds will soften again as they absorb moisture from the interior. Overdrying the weed is the likely culprit if this doesn’t occur.
- Preserving foods in airtight containers requires a humidity level between 55 and 65%. A digital hygrometer, which measures humidity, is also available for purchase if you’re still not sure.
- Dry buds can be rehydrated by placing them in a container with a humidity pack, such as a Boveda pack.
- Leave the cover off for half a day or a full day if the buds are still too damp to shut. It’s important to keep a close eye on the humidity levels and, if necessary, leave the lid off for a while if they’re still too high.
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Sneeze on Your Pals
In the first week of curing, it’s important to burp the containers once or twice a day, regardless of the humidity. This allows oxygen to be reintroduced into the sealed container while also releasing moisture.
A musty, ammonia-like odour upon opening a jar of cannabis indicates that the buds are not dry enough and are being consumed by anaerobic bacteria, resulting in mouldy, rotting cannabis.
Take a day off and then reseal the container. Burping containers less frequently than once every several days after the first week is fine.
Suggestions for Preserving Your Cannabis Crop
When cannabis is cured, the buds can be stored for up to two years without losing much of their strength. Dry, cured cannabis is best stored in a dark, cool environment, much like a great wine or whiskey. Between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal for the growth of mildew and other moulds on cannabis and organic debris.
Cannabinoids and terpenes, which take months to mature, can be destroyed by too much heat. These essential oils and plant materials can produce a scorching, unpleasant smoke if allowed to dry out for too long.
Some Suggestions for Bud Storage Are as Follows.
- Put it away in a dark, dry spot that doesn’t get too hot.
- Be sure to put your supplies away in unassuming containers like mason jars.
- Check the humidity levels with a hygrometer or use a product like a Boveda pack to regulate the atmosphere’s moisture content.
- Sealing containers with a vacuum prevents oxygen from getting in.
- Cut out genetic ties and date labels to preserve distinct flavours.
- Temperature
The conversion of THCA to psychoactive THC, known as decarboxylation, is slowed by cold temperatures. THC gradually breaks down into CBN, a cannabinoid with distinct actions and characteristics. As an added bonus, warm air is better at retaining moisture than cold air.
- Humidity
Mildew and other mould toxins might ruin your cannabis crop if you don’t take humidity control seriously. Humidity levels between 55 and 65% should be used to store cannabis, as this range will both preserve and improve its colour, consistency, aroma, and flavour.
- Light
Cannabis, like many other organic and manufactured materials, degrades over time when exposed to harmful UV radiation. The temperature of cannabis can be maintained by storing it in a dark place.
