These are my notes on dry/cure, culled from Nebula's tutorials. If anyone sees anything amiss, please let us all know.
DRYING & CURING
Proper curing increases potency: Cannabis plants produce THCA and other cannabinoids through biosynthesis, during which certain compounds are converted into new ones. During dry and cure, the conversion of non-psychoactive cannabinoids to thca will continue and buds gain potency.
Curing affects flavor and quality of smoke: Terpenes are quite volatile, and can degrade and evaporate at as low as 70°F. Further, proper conditions create an optimal environment for enzymes and aerobic bacteria to break down leftover minerals and undesirable sugars produced by the decomposition of chlorophyll during dry/cure. This process makes the vape/smoke smooth. Improper cure = harsh bud.
Curing preserves cannabisup to two years: Well-cured bud can be stored in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place for without significant loss of potency.
INITIAL DRYING: 5-15 days, 60-70°F, 45-55% RH in room
These conditions are crucial to preserving the flavor and aroma, so use dehumidifier if necessary to stay in this range.
Hang the branches. Hanging the whole plant will slow down the drying process. Keep the cannabis in a dark room with a fan to gently circulate air. When
buds feel dry on the outside, the
smallest branches snaprather than fold, you’re ready for the next step.
PREPARE BUD FOR JARS: Moisture moves during the cure.Even if the bud feels dry, it will moisten up some during the curing process as the moisture balances between the interior and exterior.
Remove as much stem as possible for a more even cure. Buds should be shorter than 3".
Pack buds loosely in jars. Budsshould always feel
completely dry on the outside, and shouldn't stick together. If necessary, put back on rack.
DRYING/CURING 70-65% in jar TWO-FOUR WEEKS: Keep containers in a cool, dry, dark spot to finish the curing process. Hygrometer should read 70% RH maximum.
- The cure has been happening to a small degree since the moment the bud was cut. Now we are juggling time with mold prevention. We want to avoid mold, but we want to get every second of cure time in that we can. The goal in this phase is to start at a 70% maximum RHand, in a timely and mold-free manner, bring the RH down to about 65%.
- Within the first day, you will notice that the buds are no longer dry on the outside, as moisture from inside the flowers rehydrates the outer portions. If this is not the case, you have over-dried your cannabis.
- Begin wicking the jars depending on initial RH reading. Slower is always better, but environmental factors may dictate faster. If buds ever are left in jars while they feel wet on the outside, they are much more likely to get mold. Buds should feel dry on the outside every time you close them in your jars.
- Four weeks minimum cure, 6 months max.
CURE ZONE: 65% -
55% TWO-SIX MONTHS: open jars every few days.
- The cure stops below 55%.
- Slowly release moisture from jar at this time. Buds are now in the cure zone. After 2 months of curing, buds will begin losing color.
- Short wick once a weekin order to slow down release of moisture. Buds are ready at around 60%, when equalization in RHis achieved. Moisture is distributed evenly throughout bud now, and moisture transfer or perspiration slows dramatically. It may take up to 36 hours to get an accurate RH reading.
- Below 60% buds are even smoother to vape/smoke, and are ready for long-term storage. Try to guarantee air tightness in jars.
- Ideally, fully-cured cannabis should have between 8% and 10% moisture content.
- No crumbly bud: Lightly squeeze a bud between your fingers. If the bud crumbles and breaks apart, it is over dried.
- Snappy stem is good: If you bend the stem of the bud and it gives off a snapping sound, you know that it is dry all the way to the stem.
- Bendy stem = more wicking needed: If the stem bends without a sound, continue wicking bud.
