Drying methods to achieve perfect light cannabis flowers.
After purchasing light marijuana in Milan through our home delivery service, you loved it so much that you decided to grow it. You were informed about the legal cultivation of sativa hemp, you cultivated your seedlings and now… What satisfaction: it’s time to harvest them!
After months of hard work caring for your plants, you finally have a harvest of beautiful, fragrant light cannabis flowers that you can’t wait to try. But first, as you well know, they need to be dried.
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You might be tempted to dry the buds as quickly as possible, but know that a prolonged drying process, and thus the removal of moisture from the flowers under environmental conditions, will provide you with a much better product for multiple reasons.
Why choose the best method for drying light cannabis (let it lose moisture the fastest)?
First of all, because proper moisture removal from light cannabis inflorescences increases the potency of CBD, which is the non-psychoactive cannabinoid that has multiple benefits for our body.
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Examples?
It is an excellent analgesic, antiemetic, antispasmodic, and anticonvulsant. It has relaxing, antidepressant, and even antibacterial properties. And much more!
Your ultimate goal for drying should therefore be to achieve high percentages of CBD (which also vary depending on the type of cannabis you planted).
You should also know that proper drying of light cannabis buds influences the taste and quality of the product.
Many aromatic compounds (terpenes) that give cannabis its unique smell and taste are very volatile and can degrade and evaporate at temperatures above approximately 21 °C. Slow drying at low temperatures better preserves these terpenes than rapid drying of legal hemp.
Ideal drying conditions include a temperature ranging from 15 to 20 °C maximum and a humidity level between 45 and 55%.
These conditions also create an optimal environment for aerobic enzymes and bacteria to break down residual minerals and undesirable sugars produced by the decomposition of chlorophyll during the drying process. The presence of these residual sugars and minerals is the cause of the burning sensation in the throat that occurs when smoking poorly dried cannabis.
After these premises, here is the best drying and curing method for light cannabis.
Optimal drying of cannabis buds
Even though you can freeze the buds, cure them with water or even dry ice, we will focus on the simplest and safest way to achieve the best results from your harvest.
The first step is to collect light cannabis flowers, which should take place when at least 60% of the pistils turn reddish and when the trichomes change from clear to white.
The most commonly used harvesting method involves cutting branches 30 to 40 centimeters from the plants, removing unwanted leaves, and then hanging the branches on a string or wire.
Some producers, for drying purposes, cut and hang entire plants, while others cut the buds from the branches and place them on drying racks.
Where to dry legal sativa hemp?
Regardless of the method you prefer, after harvesting, you need to store the marijuana flowers in a dark room, at a temperature between 15 and 20° C and at a humidity level between 45 and 55%, with a small fan to circulate the air.
These conditions are essential to preserve the flavor and aroma of the precious gem collected in the finished product. We therefore recommend equipping yourself with a dehumidifier, air conditioner, or another device to prevent humidity from reaching excessively high levels.
When the flowers are crumbly on the outside and the small branches break when you bend them, you are ready for the next step.
Are you wondering what the drying time for hemp is?
Depending on the density of the flowers and environmental conditions, the initial drying can take from 5 to 15 days.
Final curing of cannabis
Once your cannabis buds are almost dry, it’s time to cure them.
Here are the steps to follow to achieve an excellent result:
- Clean the buds (this is also called “manicuring”) and separate them from the branches, unless you have already done this before drying.
- Place the clean buds in an airtight container. You can use glass jars, as well as ceramic or metal containers. Do not use freezer bags as they are not suitable for curing light marijuana flowers, as they are not airtight and allow oxygen to pass through even when it is not needed. Place the flowers loosely in your containers, filling them to the top without compacting or crushing the buds.
- Seal the containers and place them in a cool, dry, and dark place to finish the maturation process of the marijuana. From the very first day, you will notice that the buds are no longer crispy and dry on the outside, as the moisture from the inside of the flowers rehydrates the outer parts. If this does not happen, you have over-dried your cannabis flowers.
- During the first week, open the containers several times a day and let the flowers “breathe” for a few minutes. This allows moisture to escape and fills the container with oxygen. If you smell ammonia when you open a container, it means that the buds are not dry enough to be cured and that anaerobic bacteria are consuming them. This will unfortunately lead to mold and rot.
- After the first week , you should only open the containers once every two or three days.
- After 2 to 3 weeks in the containers, your cannabis will have matured and dried sufficiently, but 4 to 8 weeks of curing will improve it even more. Some strains benefit from aging for 6 months or more.
And at this stage…
How to properly store your light cannabis flowers
Proper care allows you to store light marijuana for long periods without worrying about mold or loss of cannabinoid content.
You should know that the flowers, after complete drying, can be stored in an airtight container in a cool, dark place for two years without significant loss of active ingredients.
Are you ready?
We wish you good luck and don’t be discouraged by initial mistakes : over time, you will become more and more familiar with your fragrant light marijuana flowers!
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