How to Dry Your Cannabis

You've gone through the process of watering, feeding, and tending to your weed plants for many weeks, and once the all-important harvesting process is completed, arguably the most crucial stages are next: drying and curing. This is where, unfortunately, many growers (especially novices) fall at the final hurdle and ruin all of their hard work by not thoroughly priming their cannabis crop for consumption. But have no fear; we're here to guide you through the drying process so you can reap the rewards of top-shelf bud.

Why do you need to dry your cannabis?

So, what is the point of drying your cannabis? Surely you can rip the buds off the plant and start smoking them immediately, right? Not quite! Drying your cannabis acts to increase not only the quality of your weed, but also its shelf-life and smokability. Your freshly plucked cannabis buds are still filled with moisture, so this must be removed from the equation before you can enjoy them. Drying your cannabis also reduces the harshness of the smoke and allows the terpenes to stand out. And, perhaps most importantly, drying helps to prevent mould from destroying your stash.

To summarise, here are the main benefits of drying your cannabis buds:

• Decreases the harshness of the smoke
• Improves flavour and aroma
• Increases potency
• Reduces the risk of mould and other pathogens
• Increases the longevity (shelf-life) of your cannabis

What's the difference between drying and curing?

As both processes are part of the after-harvesting stages of growing cannabis, some believe that the terms “drying” and “curing” are interchangeable. However, this is not the case. As the name suggests, drying is the process of drying the buds so that less moisture is present, making them more suitable for use. Curing, however, is the method of storing your dried cannabis in a closed container for a period of at least two weeks. Curing is carried out to further improve the flavour and decrease the harshness of your strain.

How to dry your cannabis

So, you've clipped your precious buds from your cannabis plant, and now you're ready to dry them. You'll be pleased to learn that you don't need expensive equipment; in fact, you can use simple household solutions to ensure your bud is thoroughly dried. But first, we'll discuss the role of humidity in the drying process.

The best humidity level for drying buds

Striking the right balance of humidity and temperature is paramount to getting the best results when drying your cannabis. Your drying area should have a relative humidity of around 62%. This can easily be tested with a hygrometer. You may even find that your household thermometer has one built in. We specify a 62% humidity so buds can stay sufficiently hydrated, but not so much that they develop mould. This humidity level can also help to optimise the smoothness and flavour of the smoke. In terms of temperature, try to aim for around 18–21°C.

Hygrometer / Thermometer

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Cardboard box method

As a cheap and simple method of drying your cannabis, you can always opt for a cardboard box. The next time you receive your Zamnesia delivery, keep hold of the box! Simply take your trimmed buds and place them inside the box, then place it all inside a drying room or even your empty grow tent. Be sure to keep an eye on the humidity using a hygrometer, and you can't go wrong. Some even hang string in a deep cardboard box (like a washing line) and then attach the branches to the strings to dry more cannabis in one go. Just ensure you don't cram in too many branches or buds, as this can make it hard to ensure air circulation and keep humidity within the appropriate range.

Hang-drying

Another low-cost way of drying cannabis is simply hang-drying it. This involves taking the branches and attaching them upside down to lines of string, rope, or coat hangers and then placing them in a cupboard, room, or empty grow tent. This is a tried and true method of drying cannabis, and is arguably the most popular way of doing so. It's cheap and efficient, with very little needed in the way of equipment.

But just like the above method, you must ensure adequate space between each branch to prevent mould formation. Also, consider blowing a fan against a wall (not directly at your plants) to keep air flowing if things get too crowded and muggy.

Using a rack

Although this may be a method reserved for more extensive operations, there's no denying that a rack is perfect for drying cannabis. These purpose-built units are multi-tiered and designed to house many plants worth of bud. However, that's not to say that a smaller home version can't be retrofitted for the job. Whether you use wire shelving or mobile shelving units, all you need to do is trim your buds and then spread them out evenly over the shelves. Each shelf should have a hygrometer to keep track of the humidity. By providing plenty of air circulation, using a rack is a great option when you've got lots of bud to dry out.

Herb-drying nets

If you're looking for a zero-fuss cannabis drying method, herb-drying nets could very well be the solution. These nets are versatile and can hang from the ceiling, in a cupboard, or a grow tent. This method offers several netted, breathable polyester compartments that can house your weed to dry. They simply unzip, allowing you to add your bud, and then are zipped back up and left to dry for a duration of your choosing.

Typically, each compartment can store around 150g of cannabis, meaning plenty can be dried in one go. Of course, humidity, airflow, and temperature all still play a significant role in the process, but through the use of a hygrometer, fan, and thermometer, it's easy to dial in the right setting for your herb to dry. Once you've finished using your herb-drying net, it simply flattens and can be stored effortlessly.

What's the best way to dry your bud?

After reviewing the different ways in which you can dry your bud, which one is best? Well, there's no definitive winner, as many factors are at play. Taking cost, space, and the amount of herb you're looking to dry into consideration will help you establish the best method for your setup.

That said, you certainly don't have to look far to find forums with cannabis aficionados claiming that one method is superior to another. Simply put, as long as your cannabis is upside down when hanging and the correct humidity levels are present, you can't go wrong. This may take a little while to dial in initially (especially if it's your first time), but don't let that deter you; experimenting with various processes and methods is part of the cannabis cultivation game, so don't limit yourself!

Hemp Curing Jar

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How long should it take to dry your cannabis?

There are a few factors that play into how long it will take your cannabis to dry. One is the size of the buds. It goes without saying that larger buds will take longer to dry compared to smaller ones. Also, how you trim and prepare your cannabis will play a role. Larger branches will contain more water and moisture, so if you have the option to hang smaller branches or the individual buds themselves, it's certainly worth considering. Moreover, if you have yet to trim your buds, this means you'll be dealing with more plant matter, and thus it will take longer for the buds to be sufficiently dry.

As previously mentioned, airflow, humidity, and temperature also play a considerable part in the duration of your drying. If you get all of these factors right, you'll find that it takes around 7–12 days for your cannabis to dry. You may notice that the buds get smaller during this time, but it's completely normal as the water evaporates from your weed.

When it comes to testing if your buds are sufficiently dry and ready to cure, many abide by the "snap test". All this test involves is taking a bud in your hands and applying pressure to the stem, as though you're going to break it. If it snaps, the bud is likely sufficiently dried. If the stem instead bends, it probably still contains too much moisture, and needs more time.

What's next for your buds?

Drying is only part of the preparation process; the next stage is curing. This is where you take your dried buds and place them in a humidity-controlled jar for around 4–8 weeks. Leaving your buds for this amount of time opens up an array of positive benefits, such as:

• Improves the smoothness of the smoke as chlorophyll breaks down and terpenes take over
• Removes the last of the moisture from your buds to stop them from becoming mouldy in the future
• Enhances the flavours, aromas, and potency of your cannabis
• Increases the shelf-life of your herb

If you're looking to take things to the next level and cure your cannabis, we have the perfect guide. Head over and prepare yourself for the next stage of your cannabis cultivation journey.

Get your buds drying today!

Whether you've got just one plant on the go or several, your buds will eventually need to be dried and cured before you use them. You'll certainly notice the difference if you try to smoke them straight away. So don't let your hard work go to waste—choose a suitable method of drying your cannabis.

With so many options available to suit all budgets and environments, you have complete control over how you handle your harvests. And, if you're looking for cannabis seeds to grow, post-harvesting equipment, or cannabis-related accessories, Zamnesia has you covered. We offer everything you need for the entire cultivation process (and beyond)!

Adam Parsons

Professional cannabis journalist, copywriter, and author Adam Parsons is a long-time staff member of Zamnesia. Tasked with covering a wide range of topics from CBD to psychedelics and everything in between, Adam creates blog posts, guides, and explores an ever-growing range of products.

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