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How to Rehydrate Dry Buds?
You get home from work, open the jar with the harvest from your home grow, and realize that when you grind the bud, it crumbles into dust and has lost most of its volume and moisture. Has this ever happened to you? If so, then unfortunately your cannabis buds have dried out. But don’t worry, there are several solutions, and we’ll go through them right away, just in case you are dealing with this problem right now.
It’s not just that a lot of volume is lost. There are many other inconveniences, as very dry weed also burns too fast, has a harsh, spicy taste that feels rough on the throat and palate, and both the effect and aroma might lose their intensity. In short, all the hard work of growing and curing your precious cannabis flowers goes to waste.
Let’s take a look at how to solve the problem of dry buds.
What Is Rehydration of Dry Buds?
Well, it’s not hard to figure out what rehydrating dry buds is all about, and why it can be essential for maintaining freshness and potency. When cannabis plants are harvested, growers go through the drying process, trimming and the final curing stage, which enhances all the nuances cannabis has to offer when each step is done correctly. The effect is complete, the flavors and aromas are fresh and appealing, and the overall experience is much more enjoyable.
To determine when it’s time to store the harvest in glass jars, it’s important to know the ideal temperature and humidity for drying cannabis. To achieve this, growers first hang the plants in a dry, dark space and keep them there for about 15 days, or until the branches can be snapped easily by hand. This is the best and most reliable method to ensure the plants have lost most of their initial moisture.
Once this step is done, the buds are trimmed, and the larger or low-resin leaves are removed (though this depends on personal preference, as some spend hours trimming every single leaf and others prefer to trim right after harvest), and the buds are stored in airtight glass jars, away from light and heat, to allow them to cure.
However, if over time the buds haven’t been stored properly, whether because the container wasn’t suitable, the storage area was too warm, or too much time has passed since harvest, they lose their original moisture and end up overly dry.
Rehydrating dry buds means introducing moisture to restore some of the humidity they need.
Importance of Proper Hydration
As we mentioned earlier, smoking weed that hasn’t been properly hydrated causes the buds to lose a lot of their quality. The aromas fade, the flavor becomes dull, and smoking this kind of bud is quite irritating to the throat and tongue.
Lack of moisture in buds can negatively affect the quality of cannabis and the user’s overall experience. A perfect bud should have around 60% humidity or, more precisely, between 58% and 62%. Later on, we’ll show you how to easily reach this ideal range.
Having dry buds not only affects the smoking experience but also directly impacts their weight. The lower the moisture content, the lower the weight. Additionally, when buds become overly dry, the terpenes (responsible for the aroma and flavor of your flowers) volatilize, and once they’re gone, they can’t be recovered.
That’s why maintaining proper humidity in your buds is essential if you want to enjoy a product with top-tier organoleptic quality.
Rehydration Techniques
Now let’s take a closer look at how to rehydrate dry buds you love but that have lost some of their magic. Here are the methods we suggest, but you can also feel free to improvise.
Bread, Lettuce, or Damp Paper Towel Method
A very simple method involves placing a piece of slightly moist (not soaked) bread, a bit of lettuce, or a piece of damp (thoroughly wrung out) paper towel inside the jar containing your dry buds. Close the jar and leave it for a while (about an hour, for example). It’s important that the moisture source doesn’t come into direct contact with the buds, as that could be harmful.
If after that time the buds feel revived and fluffy again, you can remove the humidifying element, close the jar, and store it in a cool place. If they’re still dry, leave the setup in place a bit longer.
Depending on the buds’ initial moisture level, it may take several hours or even a full day. Be careful not to overdo it, as this could encourage the growth of harmful mold. If you’ve added too much moisture and the buds end up too wet, simply leave the jar open for a while and continue opening it daily until the excess moisture dissipates.
Steam Method
Sometimes you’re in a hurry and can’t wait too long for your buds to reach the perfect state. In this case, you can rehydrate dry buds using steam. It’s simple but has a downside: if you overdo it, the buds will become too wet, and you won’t be able to consume them until they return to the proper humidity level.
To do this, boil a small amount of water in a pot and place a colander on top, making sure it doesn’t touch the water. Cover the colander with a cloth and spread the buds over it. In a short time, the steam should raise the humidity and penetrate the interior of the buds. At that point, remove them and place them back in airtight jars.
As mentioned, don’t overdo it, or you’ll end up with soft buds that feel as if they have been freshly harvested. Besides that, excessive heat can also volatilize some of the terpenes.
Fruit Peel or Aromatic Herb Method
One of the most effective techniques to rehydrate dry buds is to use fruit peels or aromatic herbs. You can use apple peels, citrus rinds, banana peels, or any peel from your favorite fruit. Likewise, you can add freshly cut aromatic herbs (even fresh buds or leaves from newly harvested plants) to increase humidity and add new aromas to your dry buds.
This technique not only increases the humidity in dry buds but also gives them a new character thanks to the essential oils released by the fruit or herbs. It works especially well when buds have lost much of their aroma. However, be careful to avoid rot and the spread of mold spores that come with decomposition.
Hydrogel, Boveda, and Cedar Box Method
Finally, we come to the safest method for maintaining perfect humidity in cannabis buds after drying and curing, or to rehydrate dry buds. This involves placing hydrogel packets, like those from the brand Boveda, inside your cannabis jars.
These packets keep the humidity at an optimal and stable level for a long period, depending on the flowers’ initial moisture and how airtight the container is. They are available in 58% and 62% humidity levels and will preserve your buds in perfect condition, keeping their texture and properties intact.
These packets work in environments with humidity levels ranging from 13% to 95%. That means if your weed is too moist during curing, the packets will absorb excess humidity to reach balance within its range.
On the other hand, if it’s too dry (as is likely with dry buds), the packet will release moisture into the flowers until the right level is reached. So, it’s the ideal option for keeping your buds in optimal condition.
Keep in mind that once the packs harden, they need to be replaced. You can find them in sizes ranging from 1 gram (suitable for 3.5 grams of weed) up to 320 grams (suitable for 1.5 kg of weed).
There’s also the option of using a cedar box with a built-in humidifier (like those used for cigars), ideally with a hygrometer to monitor the humidity level. It’s a much more expensive option, but it’s certainly an excellent solution for long-term storage.
Tips for Drying and Curing Your Cannabis Buds
To ensure that the rehydration process for your dry buds is both effective and safe, you need to make sure they don’t become overly moist or start to rot, especially the material you’re using to reintroduce moisture. If that happens, check for signs of mold, like Botrytis, and open the jars daily (as long as the day is not too humid) until the humidity level is under control again.
This is also something to keep in mind during harvest time, to avoid ruining your cannabis flowers. In this link, you can learn how to properly dry and cure cannabis after harvesting.
How to Prevent Mold in Your Cannabis Buds During the Drying and Curing Process?
The process of drying cannabis buds is very delicate, and there are a few essential tips to follow if you want to avoid mold and bacteria that can spoil your buds and all the hard work you’ve put in over the last few months.
Ensuring good air circulation in your drying space is just as important as maintaining proper hygiene in the area and with the tools you use. During curing, the goal is to release any excess moisture that could attract mold to your beloved cannabis buds. For this, simply open your jars daily to allow airflow and inspect the flowers. If they feel damp, leave the jar open until the buds feel dry to the touch. If it’s a rainy or very damp climate day, refrain from opening the jar until the environment’s humidity levels drop.
Above all, the goal is to preserve the quality of your buds throughout the process and end up with a final product that’s clean and safe.
We also have a helpful article on cannabis mold that might come in handy if you run into any issues. You can read it in this link.
What Effects Do Rehydrated Dry Buds Have on the Consumer?
Once you’ve finished rehydrating your dry buds, you’ll notice some differences when it comes time to consume your cannabis. Will you see gnomes riding pink unicorns? Well… not quite. But you will notice a clear improvement compared to the state your buds were in before reading this article.
The smoke will feel smoother, and the flavor will be closer to what the original buds tasted like. It won’t be as fresh, since many of the more volatile terpenes, such as monoterpenes, are likely gone, but if you used citrus peels or aromatic herbs in the process, you may detect new notes that add a unique twist to your cannabis buds.
During the drying and curing process, cannabis undergoes decarboxylation, which gradually transforms cannabinoids into their active forms, enhancing the psychoactive effect of the weed. With over-dried buds, many of these cannabinoids begin to convert into others like CBN, resulting in a slightly milder high, which is less psychedelic and more relaxing.
That said, some users actually prefer this kind of mellow effect.
Get the Best Buds from the Wide Choice of Cannabis Seeds from Sweet Seeds®
We’re wrapping up now, and we just want to thank you for reading while emphasizing the importance of keeping your buds properly hydrated. This way, you’ll be able to enjoy their full potential, whether you use cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes.
It’s just as important to be aware that no matter which rehydration method you choose, you should always be on the lookout for mold. Be cautious and enjoy your harvest the way it deserves.
We invite you to explore the Sweet Seeds® online catalog and discover your next favorite strain to expand your cannabis seed collection with our top-quality genetics.
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.