Curing Cannabis – The ULTIMATE Overview

Why is curing cannabis so important? It is a crucial part to get rid of any bacteria that can break down the cannabis plant.

Without this process, it will break down into a compound that is not good cannabis at all.

What does it mean? Let Online Dispensary Canada explain our expert article today.

Curing Weed

The growing season brings crisp, aromatic blooms and the end of the long weed growing cycle. Even though it may feel like the end, your bud isn’t quite ready.

The raw flower must cure and dry before smoking, and patience will be rewarded with a higher quality product.

What is curing weed?

Curing weed is the weeks-long procedure of gently eliminating moisture from buds under controlled circumstances.

Curing is a preservation process that people have used for millennia to retain meats and other degradable goods, often with salts and sugars.

Although you won’t need to add anything to your weed. Curing weed takes nothing more than time and proper technique.

What is the importance of curing weed?

Curing can take anything from two weeks to six months, and while it may appear to be a burden, curing transforms bitter buds into the best-tasting cannabis available of the crop.

Sugars and chlorophyll degrade more quickly as a result of the curing process. Mould, mildew, and other airborne bacteria thrive in freshly harvested cannabis’ starches, making it a fertile habitat for them.

When smoked, these atoms leave behind pungent, acrid aftertastes. As a result, your nugs will be free of microorganisms and provide a much smoother smoke after curing.

In addition to improving the flavour of your cannabis, curing also protects the delicate terpene scent.

Terpenes are responsible for cannabis’ exquisite aroma and flavour, but they’re also brittle, degrading, and evaporating at temperatures as low as 70°F.

The terpenes are better preserved with a low, gradual cure than with a high, quick one.

A good weed cure also protects your buds‘ potency, which is critical if you’ve spent the time and money to develop a great line of genetics for your strain.

Light and oxygen cause THC to break down into CBN, a cannabinoid that, while somewhat psychotropic, has a distinct effect.

Curing at low temperatures preserves the THC content of your buds, resulting in a stronger cigarette as a reward for your efforts.

Finally, drying and curing your weed extends its usable life. When properly cured and stored, your buds will remain mould-free for over two years with no noticeable deterioration in flavour or potency during that time.

How to cure weed?

Before you begin the process of curing your weed, keep a few ideas in mind.

1. Avoid being exposed to light.

Light waves and UV rays destroy the THC and terpenes in your marijuana, making it less potent.

2. Keep your stash cool:

Heat and light both degrade your weed’s desired terpenes and THC potency, so keeping it at a cooler temperature will help keep your buds fresh.

3. Keep your buds at the right moisture level.

If the humidity is too low, your buds will become brittle and crispy, and mould will grow if the humidity is too high. During curing, maintain a humidity level between 60 and 65 percent in the Goldilocks zone.

Now that you’ve learned these ideas, it’s time to put your weed curing kit together. To get started, gather the following materials:

Gloves that can be thrown away after use
A sufficient number of mason jars to keep your cannabis at a capacity of 75%.
Maintain a humidity level of 62 percent with the help of humidipaks (optional)
Use a hygrometer or equivalent instrument to test the humidity levels inside your containers.

To start, make sure that your flowers are completely dry. When drying your buds one at a time, place them in containers and fill them up to around 75% of their capacity.

This will give you some breathing room.

Before putting the flowers in the jars, make sure the branches are cut and manicured.

Right now would be a great moment to see if you dried your nugs correctly or not. Gently shake the jars to combine the ingredients.

If the buds are still moist, they will stick together in the jars, which will lead to the growth of germs and mould. You’re ready to cure if they shake freely and don’t stick to one another.

Place the jars in a dark, cool place and cover them with caps. A cupboard or other storage space will be fine as long as the temperature stays below 69 degrees Fahrenheit.

Check on your buds twice a day in the beginning.

Examine them through the glass for mould. Open the lids for a few minutes each time to let fresh air while monitoring the humidity. If it’s too damp, leave the lids off for 2-4 hours or remove the buds for up to 12 hours.

With reduced humidity, allow longer times between “breathing” sessions or add a humidity pack.

It signifies your buds aren’t dry enough to cure, and bacteria have invaded, resulting in rotten, mouldy cannabis.

Every day for the following two weeks, examine your buds and adjust humidity as needed. After three weeks, your buds are ready to smoke.

Longer curing times (up to six months) boost flavour and potency without affecting quality. It’s up to you, but patience is a virtue when curing weed.