Cannabis can be dried or cured to assist eliminate extra moisture, which is essential for the final product’s quality and shelf life. After drying, a procedure known as curing takes place. The leftover moisture and chlorophyll in the buds are leached out during the curing process, enabling the cannabis flower to attain the optimal state for that specific cannabis strain.
Cannabis plant branches are usually hung on drying racks while farmers dry their buds. Growers then cut the buds from their branches and store them in containers with controlled ventilation when it’s time to cure them.
For best results, both methods demand a chilly, dark setting. Growers can generate reliable and consistent harvests by paying close attention to these two processes diligently and consistently.
Why Do We Treat Marijuana Buds?
Proper drying and curing of cannabis buds can enhance the aroma, flavor, strength, and shelf life of the finished product. Cannabis buds that have been patiently and carefully cured won’t lose their flavor or potency for a year or more since they are less likely to develop mold.
Cannabis that has been dried and cured properly can help growers produce products that smoke more smoothly and give users a more enjoyable and balanced experience.
Buds will continue to undergo molecular changes both during the initial drying step and throughout the curing process. Some of the buds’ tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) will transform into cannabinol (CBN).
The curing procedure usually requires a lot of patience from seasoned growers. They watch for a balance of THC and CBN in their buds, which is a sign of a high-quality harvest.
Curing cannabis buds after they have been freshly collected promotes the breakdown of byproducts, which enhances the flavor and aroma of the buds. The sugars and starches that plants store for future growth are still present in the buds when they are first harvested, but airborne bacteria and enzymes will eventually assault these molecules.
By eliminating these byproducts, growers can produce buds that smoke more easily and have more alluring aromas and flavors.
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How Long Does Cannabis Take to Heal?
It might take anywhere between three weeks and six months to cure cannabis. The environment in which cannabis processes can have a significant impact on how long it takes to cure correctly.
The curing process is influenced by a wide range of variables, including humidity levels, temperature, breathing techniques, and curing containers. Curing may take a lot longer if the temperature and humidity in the curing containers and environment are unstable.
Experienced growers employ a number of methods to manage these variables and provide the finest possible end result. Slow healing is often the best course of action.
Health Care for Cannabis
1) Moving from A Drying to A Curing Phase
Many seasoned growers, however, like to trim their buds after the initial drying process. Some growers choose to cut the buds from their branches as soon as they are harvested.
When buds are left on their branches between the first and second week of drying, they retain more cannabinoids. When prepping buds for the curing process, products like the Green Broz Model M Dry Trimmer help protect the integrity and potency of the buds.
2) Create a Dim Environment for Curing.
Key components like THC and terpenes in cured buds are prevented from deteriorating by avoiding exposure to light during the curing process. Mason jars may need to be stored in a box or cabinet that is dark if you are curing your buds in them.
To further preserve the buds, some gardeners choose glass jars that only allow violet light to pass through. The curing environment should be as dark as possible if you are using auto-curing buckets or other professional curing equipment to cure your buds.
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3) Store Flowers for Future Use
The buds should be stored in airtight containers that are filled to around 75% of their maximum capacity when the dried cannabis is prepared to be cured. After adding the buds to the jar, shake it to see if the buds are ready for curing.
The buds are probably ready for curing if they are rattling about freely. The exterior of the buds may need to dry further if shaking the jar causes the buds to group together.
4) Keep an Eye on Temperature and Humidity Levels
The majority of growers concur that ideal temperatures are close to 21°C/69.8°F, with ideal humidity levels falling between 45 and 65 percent. Only a hygrometer can be used to measure humidity. It is wise to check the buds twice daily for mold growth for at least the first 24 hours of the curing process.
Humidity levels that are too high promote the growth of anaerobic bacteria, which destroys the buds. Also, if the smell of ammonia emerges from the containers when they are opened, you likely need to lower the humidity levels in the room or leave the containers open for longer periods of time.
Experienced growers often suggest the containers should be left open for periods of around three hours. To prevent humidity from fluctuating, you may also place humidity packs in affected containers to maintain consistent levels of moisture in the air.
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Let the Buds Breath
After the first few days, if your stash is curing appropriately, the jars should be opened briefly once a day for at least the next two weeks. This practice in curing is known as ‘burping’ the stash. If you have an auto-curated system in place, this step in the curing process is eliminated.
After three weeks in a carefully controlled environment, many growers will have produced fully cured buds. Different strains require different conditions and curing periods, so it is important to do your research before attempting to dry and cure specific strains.
How to Cure Cannabis with Automation
While many novice growers can manage individually ‘burping’ each jar they are curing, it can become extremely time-consuming when growers start to harvest larger quantities of cannabis. This is the reason that many seasoned producers that harvest huge quantities of cannabis buds opt to automate their curing process.
Through the use of “auto-curing buckets,” which are commonly made out of food-grade, BPA-free five-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids, auto-curing can be done. The capacity for flower collecting is greatly increased by the two pounds of flower that each bucket can contain.
Although it takes some initial labor to modify the buckets for auto-curing, doing so greatly decreases the amount of work needed while the buckets are being cured.
In order to provide intake and exhaust functions, growers must drill holes in the buckets and insert silicone tubing closed with check valves. The tubes are connected to an air pump that controls air during the curing process, eliminating the need to manually unscrew jars at regular intervals to breathe.
Using expertly made technology that offers the same airflow control as auto-curing buckets, large-scale farmers also automate the curing process.