Best Practices for Drying and Curing Cannabis

Growers working to achieve the best possible flavor, potency, and product quality must also put in the work to ensure their cannabis is dried and cured properly. In this post, we’ll explore why this is such an important step post-harvest, and spotlight some of the best practices for achieving optimal drying and curing.

Why Proper Drying and Curing Matters

Growers dedicate countless hours and tremendous effort to establishing and managing substrate and environmental conditions that lead to happy plants and healthy yields. While operators are often very focused on trying not to under-dry their cannabis, which can cause issues like mold, it’s also crucial that they prevent overdrying which can compromise trichome health and overall product quality. 

Measuring water activity allows cultivators to gauge whether the internal relative humidity (RH) of the air pockets inside the flower matches the water activity in the plant material. Water activity that’s too high creates conditions that facilitate yeast, fungus, and microbial growth, while water activity that’s too low can result in the loss of terpenes and cannabinoids. As water moves from high to low pressure to achieve equilibrium within its environment, using water activity to measure that movement helps growers hone in on their plants’ RH percentage – and this is the key to knowing when cannabis is dried to the ideal moisture level. After drying, curing is the process that enhances flavor, aroma, and smoothness. Growers who transfer the buds to airtight glass jars for curing or burping – or opening the jars daily to allow moisture to escape and fresh air to circulate – can expect the entire batch to equilibrate a single water activity. 

Drying & Curing Best Practices

Achieving the optimal balance of safety, yield, and quality ultimately comes down to reaching the ideal water activity and RH levels for each plant throughout every step of the dry and cure. Following these best practices can help set growers up for post-harvest success:

• Use sensors. Relying upon subjective metrics like snap tests and less relevant measurements like moisture content can produce inconsistencies that make it challenging for growers to achieve quality results with each harvest. Using sensors to take reliable environmental and water activity readings can help cultivators identify the benchmarks that will lead to repeatable quality from batch to batch.

   

• Define what “done” means. Figuring out when plant material has reached peak dryness comes down to the right balance of safety (low susceptibility to mold growth)  and quality (optimal terpene profile/not over-dry). The generally accepted water activity sweet spot for cannabis tends to hover around 0.55 - 0.65, but there are many factors at play including cultivar type, RH in the dry room, and airflow patterns. Measuring and logging the water activity and RH of different strains and locations within the room helps growers set ideal moisture levels using actual data instead of best guesses.

   

• Set realistic timelines. At a time when hot trends, limited shelf space, and stiff competition can cause producers to tighten production schedules, rushing the curing process may be tempting. But doing so could result in lower product quality, an increased potential for mold and mildew, and sub-par consumer experience – all of which can negatively impact a brand’s bottom line. While a minimum 2-week cure is recommended, making sure the production timeline allows for longer curing can significantly enhance the taste and potency of the finished product – resulting in a smoother smoke and overall more pleasant consumption experience.

   

Investing time and effort into the drying and curing processes ultimately leads to a final product that is more enjoyable, with improved taste, aroma, and smoothness, making it a rewarding experience for consumers and patients. And following these best practices ensures a flavorful, potent product that reflects the hard work put in by the cultivation team. For a deeper dive into the importance of drying and curing, check out Episode 6, Episode 15, Episode 48, and Episode 56 of Office Hours.