Temperature and humidity for drying cannabis

One of the most important aspects to consider when drying your marijuana harvest is understanding the optimal temperature and humidity parameters. Therefore, from Sweet Seeds® we are going to explain in this article everything you need to know about this very important stage. Read on to learn all the details!

How to Dry Cannabis Buds

Every home grower eagerly anticipates the moment when their cannabis plants are going to be ready to harvest, anxiously waiting for the day when they will be able to enjoy the fruits of their hard and rewarding work. However, you can’t relax at this critical stage because improper drying can ruin your entire cannabis harvest. In this guide, we are going to talk about the optimal cannabis drying temperature and humidity to ensure your marijuana buds turn out perfect.

Freshly harvested cannabis plants contain a significant amount of water, which can vary based on several factors, such as growing conditions, climate, and the substrate’s moisture level at harvest. For marijuana, freshly cut plants typically contain between 75% and 85% of water in terms of their total weight.

During the drying process, cannabis plants lose a substantial amount of water. The drying stage and subsequent curing are crucial to properly adjust the water content and enhance the harvest’s quality without losing too many terpenes.

It is very important to note that these figures are approximate and can vary depending on specific growing and environmental factors. Growers often monitor the drying process closely to ensure the buds reach the desired moisture content before starting with the curing procedures.

Now, let’s break down how to achieve the ideal cannabis drying temperature and humidity to get the best possible results from your harvest.

Drying Marijuana Buds

To properly dry your cannabis flowers, you will have to wait between 7 and 14 days, depending on the humidity in your drying area. This process ensures that the water content in your plants is reduced while breaking down chlorophyll and other pigments in the tissue of the plants, which are responsible for harsh flavors and poor combustion.

It is very important that you follow this tip: If cannabis drying occurs too quickly or at high temperatures, certain pigments might not break down properly, resulting in a bitter taste. This can reduce the quality of your cannabis flowers, diminish their potency, and reduce the presence the flavors. Additionally, excessive heat volatilizes more terpenes, leading to a significant loss in aroma and overall quality.

For an optimal marijuana drying, you should always keep the following points in mind:

Cutting and trimming: After harvesting, trim the larger leaves without resin and the tips of smaller leaves that also don’t have resin. You can hang whole plants upside down, separate the branches and hang them individually, or detach the buds from the branches and place them on a drying rack. Drying the whole plant slows the process, so it’s important not to exceed a humidity level of 60% in the drying room.

If you live in a zone where the climate is usually humid, it might be better to separate the branches and arrange them with enough space for airflow, or to separate the buds and place them on newspaper on a drying rack.

Dark and ventilated environment: Hang your cannabis plants upside down in a dark, cool, and well-ventilated space. A controlled environment with stable temperature and humidity is the ideal place for drying marijuana.
Humidity control: Maintain humidity levels between 45% and 55% to prevent mold. Use hygrometers to monitor humidity and employ dehumidifiers or humidifiers if needed.
Proper cannabis drying temperature: Dry your buds at a temperature range of 18–24°C (64–75°F) for a slow, controlled drying process. This minimizes terpene loss during the marijuana drying process.
Gradual cannabis drying: Avoid drying your buds too fast to preserve their terpenes and cannabinoids. The ideal drying process typically takes about 14 days.
Handle the flowers with care: Manipulate the buds gently to avoid losing or damaging the delicate trichomes.

By following these steps, you can be sure to achieve properly dried buds that are aromatic, flavorful, and potent.

How to Know if the Cannabis Flowers are Dry?

As we mentioned and recommended before, drying marijuana should ideally take around 14 days. To determine if the drying process has been carried out correctly, you can test it by bending a branch or stem. If you notice that the stem snaps quite easily with a cracking sound, that means your buds are dry.

If, during this manual check of the buds’ drying process, you find that the stem or branch bends and does not break, you should extend the drying process for a few more days, maintaining the correct temperature and humidity for proper marijuana drying.

Curing Buds

We know that you are always eager to enjoy the fruits of your labor, but once the drying process of your plants is complete, it’s time for the step that elevates your buds to mastery. This is achieved through the curing process applied to the buds.

Proper curing will guarantee better flavor, enhanced aromas, more noticeable nuances, improved combustion, a smoother taste, and an overall boost in the potency of each strain.

The optimal curing time for marijuana buds generally ranges from 2 to 8 weeks, though some growers prefer longer periods of curing. Here is a comprehensive general guide:

Minimum of 2 weeks: A minimum curing period of two weeks allows the molecular structure of the cannabinoids to develop and improves the organoleptic qualities of the final product – the dried marijuana flowers.
Optimal – 4 to 8 weeks: Many growers prefer a curing period of 4 to 8 weeks to achieve superior results. During this time, the curing jars are periodically opened to allow fresh air to circulate inside and to release residual moisture.
Longer cures: Some experienced growers opt for longer cures that could even last for several months or more, to improve the organoleptic qualities of the buds as close to perfection as possible. This also depends on the personal preference of the grower, as some prefer the qualities of shorter curing processes.

During the curing process, the buds should be stored in airtight glass jars in a cool and dark place. It’s advisable to open the jars daily for about an hour during the first few weeks. This process allows for controlled moisture release and improves the texture, flavor, and aroma of the marijuana. Patience in curing is often rewarded with a higher-quality harvest.

In short, to perform a quality curing you must:

Separate the buds from the branches, preferably using scissors. Perform a second trimming to remove all the leaves you can possibly remove from the buds.
Get glass jars with airtight lids to ensure your cannabis buds are hermetically sealed.
Place the dry buds into the glass jars. Avoid overfilling the jars; it’s best to leave space for air to circulate between them.
Store your jars of buds in a cool, dark place.
Open the jars daily and check them with close attention to be sure that they are free of mold and fungi.
Leave the lid open for about an hour, preferably, and then close the jars again.
You can also place humidity-controlling gel packets inside the jars, like those used for maintaining the ideal humidity for premium cigars. These gel packets add moisture to the flowers if they are too dry and absorb moisture if the flowers present excessive humidity. These packets typically maintain constant humidity levels between 58% and 62%, depending on the packet you choose and the humidity level you prefer for your top-quality marijuana buds.

Recommendations for Drying and Curing

After completing all the cannabis drying and curing stages of your buds with the correct drying temperature and humidity, it’s essential to store them properly. This will preserve your beloved buds in perfect condition for up to a year with minimal loss of aroma, flavor, or potency. The best way to store them is in airtight containers placed in a cool, dark area.

If your buds become excessively dry, place them in airtight jars along with a few fresh cannabis leaves. This is very useful because it helps the buds regain moisture. Some growers add citrus peels to increase humidity and, at the same time, impart a subtle citrus aroma to their cannabis buds. Alternatively, you can also use humidity-regulating gel packs, as mentioned earlier, by placing them inside the jars.

Errors to Avoid When Drying Buds

Now we are listing the four most common mistakes in marijuana drying.

Handling the Buds

During the drying and curing stages, always do your best to avoid excessive handling, as the trichome heads can break very easily by the slightest touch of a finger.

When handling your plants, try not to end up with your hands covered in resin, unless you’re planning to enjoy some good charas.

Incorrect Humidity Levels

Remember to maintain proper humidity levels, never exceeding approximately 60%. Excessive humidity is one of the main factors that encourage mold growth, which can ruin your harvest.

Light and Temperature

If the temperature exceeds 25°C, it can lead to overly rapid drying, causing some of the issues mentioned earlier. Remember that the ideal temperature should be between 18°C and 24°C.

Additionally, drying the plants in an area with plenty of light will cause the degradation of cannabinoids, reducing the buds’ overall quality. Moreover, during the first few days of drying, exposure to light will cause the cells in the buds to continue producing chlorophyll, while the goal of any cannabis connoisseur is to reduce the chlorophyll content in the flowers.

Inadequate Ventilation

Prepare a drying space with proper and adequate ventilation. To improve air circulation, you can use oscillating fans.

However, ensure that the air doesn’t blow directly onto the plants, as this could lead to overly rapid drying. The best approach is to allow a gradual and uniform drying process.

And, of course, after reading this article, you’ve probably realized that drying in the oven, near the fireplace, or on top of the router is not your best option.

Contact Us

At Sweet Seeds®, we hope this article helps you achieve flowers with the same quality found on the best cannabis dispensaries. The key lies in achieving the optimal temperature and humidity for drying cannabis.

Now that you perfectly understand the importance of properly drying and curing marijuana buds, are you ready to achieve the best harvest you’ve ever imagined?

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us on our online forum. Sweet harvests!

Sweet Seeds S.L. is not responsible for any misuse of the information provided in this article. Growing Cannabis may constitute a criminal offense or administrative infraction; please check the Cannabis legislation applicable in your place of residence. Sweet Seeds S.L. does not, under any circumstances, intend to promote illegal practices.