Top tips on how to dry and cure your cannabis buds

Knowing how to properly dry and cure your cannabis buds is paramount in order to obtain a top-quality product with the right potency and a delicious aroma. Failing this, you’ll end up with bad-smelling nuggets that are too hard or even produce anxiety, headaches, or a funny feeling in the throat. Below are a series of top tips for everything to run smoothly right through to the end.

Dry your buds in a well-ventilated, dark place

To start the drying process, you need to cut the bud-bearing branches. Get rid of all the undesired leaves and place the buds, sorted by size, in a well-aerated and dark place, as light exposure may affect their THC levels. It is best for the air to remain warm and dry during the first few days, but should be kept cool thereafter, whilst always preventing it from blowing directly on the weed. This stage normally lasts between 4 and 14 days, although it may vary depending on temperature and humidity levels. Buds will be ready when the branches break off (and not bend) when exerting pressure on them. Naturally, plants will dry more quickly in desert locations than in tropical regions.

It must be noted that cannabis drying is as important a process as cultivation itself, and getting it wrong may translate into a completely ruined crop. Besides, even if the drying and curing processes are separate, the latter is influenced by the former. During the drying process, the water content of the buds must decrease from 75% to 10 or 15%, which is essential for THC to become psychoactive.

When not to trim the leaves

Some growers prefer leaving the leaves on the branches until the plant has dried thoroughly. This is advised in very dry regions, as the leaves help slow down the drying process. Nonetheless, it’s generally best to trim the buds immediately after harvest, as this is easier to do than after drying.

The first three days are crucial

Most water should normally evaporate in the first 3 days of drying, with the process slowing down from then on. The temperature should start around 20⁰C and then be reduced to 17-18⁰C after the three initial days. Likewise, humidity levels should be around 50% and then be increased to 60% after the initial period.

Time control

During this period you must keep a close eye on the cannabis buds to ensure that they don’t dry too slowly or too quickly. A slow drying time prevents the plant from losing its chlorophyll, so it doesn’t turn bitter, and also benefits the subsequent curing process. Moreover, it is better for the weed to retain some moisture, so it is recommendable to use a heater or dehumidifier to accelerate the drying process. Buds should never touch each other, especially if humidity levels are high.

Hanging marijuana

The best drying process consists of hanging the branches upside down from somewhere high up. ‘Air drying’ allows the air to freely circulate between the weed, slowing the process down and benefitting the curing that follows. However, you need to ensure that the area where you’re hanging your cannabis is solid and there’s no chance of it falling down. There’s another drying technique that consists in hanging the bud-bearing branches in a wire frame that can be moved around (for instance, to place it closer to or further away from fans or heaters). If you’re using fans, you need to be careful to make sure you don’t end up with buds that dry out unevenly, or with buds that dry sooner than others.

Using a drying mesh

If you live in a really humid location, we recommend using a drying net or mesh. Meshes also help accelerate the drying process as the buds are placed horizontally, which helps prevent the appearance of mould. This method is suitable for large quantities of cannabis as the nets usually feature multiple horizontal layers, which translates into a really efficient use of the space available. However, it must be pointed out that, with this technique, one of the sides of the buds will eventually flatten. Whichever method you decide on, you should never try to dry your flowers too quickly or they’ll end up losing many of their properties.

Open the containers for a few minutes every day

It is vital to collect the buds and place them in brown bags (never clear or white) when they’re almost dry. Then you need to separate them from the remaining stems and put them in jars. This initiates the curing process, right when the weed releases the same smell as when it’s freshly cut (the aim here is for it to lose that ‘green’ flavour). We advise you to first put the buds in glass jars, or metal or wood boxes, for at least 2 weeks, although it’s best to keep them in for 2 to 4 weeks. These containers must be airtight and medium-sized, and have a wide opening. Open the containers for 1-2 minutes every day.

It's really important not to fill the jars all the way to the top. They should be filled to a maximum of 75% of their capacity so the buds have some air 'to breathe'. Keep the lid slightly loose during the first few days so that air can continue getting in to improve the curing.

Humidity control

After several days inside the jars, the weed will become humid again, which is completely normal as the humidity inside the flowers starts to come out to the surface. If this moisture becomes excessive, it’s best to open the jars for 1-2 hours, or even take the buds out of the jar and put them inside a plastic bag until they become dry so the curing process within the jar can be initiated again. This way the weed won’t harden and won’t get mouldy or lose its fragrance. If you spot fungi or mould on your buds you need to react promptly to eradicate them as soon as possible.

Don’t put foreign objects inside the jars

It’s not advisable to introduce any other products inside the jars to try to adjust the water levels. Some people use small pieces of potato to regulate the humidity levels of the cannabis, but in reality this is only detrimental to the smell of the weed.

Don’t cure for longer than half a year

The second level of curing starts after 4 weeks and can last up to 6 months. This usually gives great results because the scent develops with time, becoming more appetising; the effects turn more powerful; and the taste becomes milder, even if cannabis loses some of its colour. The more cured the buds are, the milder they’ll be when smoked. Nonetheless, a curing time that is excessively long (longer than 6 months) will lower the quality of the cannabis. The weed will be totally cured when its humidity levels are between 8 and 10%, and it should be dry, crunchy and spongy at the same time.

After all these stages, and having overcome every process on the way, the cannabis will be ready for consumption, producing great pleasure in both your throat and your lungs, and causing truly beneficial effects. In order to obtain a high-quality product, marijuana cannot be consumed too quickly, right after cutting it. If you’re patient with the drying and curing processes of your cannabis you’ll undoubtedly be highly rewarded.