The harvest time has arrived, and you look proudly at your yield. Damp and intensely fragrant, the buds lie in front of you, and you know that now the real work begins. Before you can fully enjoy your harvest, it’s important to dry it to make it both durable and enjoyable. The entire process takes about 14 days, after which you can literally savor your buds.
Different Methods – How to Dry Your Cannabis
Drying is crucial because it increases the shelf life, quality, and potency of your cannabis products. There are several methods available, each with its own pros and cons. As a hobby grower, you might not have a dedicated drying room, but that’s not necessarily required. Here, we introduce you to the most popular methods for drying cannabis that you can easily implement at home.
The Natural Method: Air Drying Cannabis
If you have a well-ventilated and dark room, use it to dry your cannabis. You can either hang it up or lay it out on breathable grids to prevent mold growth. The major advantage of this method is that the cannabinoids and terpenes are preserved in high concentrations. A downside is the long drying time of about 14 days. During this period, you must keep a constant eye on your buds, as improper air conditions can lead to a risk of mold.
The Fast Method: Drying Cannabis in the Oven
If you’re in a hurry or lack space for air drying, the oven is an alternative. Keep in mind that the smell may also be noticeable to your neighbors. The ideal temperature is between 30 and 50 degrees Celsius. If you set the oven too high, it will destroy the valuable cannabinoids. Use the convection setting to ensure optimal air circulation. The lower the temperature, the longer the drying process will take. For temperatures between 30 and 40 degrees, expect the drying process to take between 12 and 18 hours. Check your buds regularly; when they break easily on the stem, they are dry.
Tip: To prevent burning, turn the buds on the tray every two hours.
Creating Optimal Drying Conditions for Cannabis
For the best possible result, you’ll need patience and know-how. How well your buds will perform later is determined right at harvest time. If you’re too impatient and cut the buds too early, you will be disappointed with the result. When the trichomes are clear or just slightly milky, it’s the right time for harvesting.
Before you hang your buds or place them in the oven, remove the plant’s leaves. They are much wetter and will slow down the drying process. To avoid wasting them, you can dry them separately.
If you choose air drying, set up the right conditions in the room. Avoid sunlight, as UV rays can reduce the potency of your buds. Ensure the room is dark and maintain a constant temperature between 18 and 22°C (maximum). High humidity increases the risk of mold, so it’s worth getting a hygrometer for just a few euros. Make sure the humidity stays between 45 and 55%, which provides the ideal conditions for flavorful and potent buds.
Tip: Good air circulation is important for evenly drying the buds from all sides. Use fans on the lowest setting. Be sure the airflow doesn’t directly hit the buds, but instead circulates the air indirectly.
Drying and Preserving CBD Buds
Finally dry – now what? The next step is curing, which maximizes the shelf life of your CBD buds. Prepare airtight jars a few days before the drying process ends. Depending on how much you’ve harvested, one jar may suffice; if you have a larger yield, use multiple containers. It’s important that the freshly dried buds are not crushed.
In theory, you can process CBD immediately after drying, for example, to make CBD oil, tinctures, or for aromatherapy. If you’re storing them, make sure that all sides of the buds are completely dry. Then place them into the prepared jars and seal them immediately. Now, they need to be stored in a dark and cool place.
Important: The refrigerator is off-limits! Although CBD buds don’t tolerate sunlight, they still need to be kept at room temperature.
You should open the containers once a day to ensure proper air exchange. Check if any condensation has formed on the glass walls. This indicates that the drying process wasn’t fully completed. It will take between two and four weeks for the buds to fully cure. After that, you can store them in the jars for up to six months.
Processing the Entire Cannabis Harvest
The buds are the crown jewels of your harvest, but leaves and stems are valuable too. Although the highest concentration of cannabinoids is found in the buds, don’t throw the rest away. Break down the plant material into bud-sized pieces and dry them using the same methods as for the buds. Since leaves retain more moisture, the drying process can take up to three weeks.
From the dried leaves, you can create various cannabis products. One popular use is making tea. Simply steep CBD leaves in boiling water for about 10 minutes. The aroma and flavor will remind you of full-bodied buds, and you won’t waste a gram of your precious plants.
After Processing Cannabis – How to Store Dried Buds
The larger the harvest, the longer you can enjoy it. To ensure the quality of your dried buds, proper storage is key. Just like with CBD oil, there are a few critical factors you should avoid. Sunshine, heat from radiators, high humidity, or the fridge are all off-limits!
It’s best to choose a dark cupboard to store your jars with buds. Make sure there are no heat sources, such as the stove or heater, nearby. If your buds are exposed to constant heat, they will lose their potency and aroma more quickly.
Tip: When removing individual buds, hygiene is important. It’s best to use tweezers to avoid contamination with bacteria. Try to touch the buds as little as possible. If you handle your dried harvest too roughly, you could damage the sensitive trichomes.
Good to know: Although most cannabis experts say dried buds have a shelf life of up to six months, practical tests show different results. When stored optimally, your buds can remain usable for up to a year, sometimes even longer. Regularly check the stored buds for mold. If you find any, dispose of the entire jar for hygiene reasons.
