How to quickly dry marijuana

Growing hemp is not just a harvesting process. Proper drying and aging of fresh cannabis stock plays a critical role in preventing mold.

These procedures will also improve the quality and shelf life of the final product. Removing excess moisture helps soften the roughness and bring out the terpene profile. After all the work and energy put into growing the plant, now is not the time to relax.

What is the best way to trim my marijuana?

At harvest time, there are two common methods for trimming your flower:

Wet pruning involves trimming your buds immediately after picking.
Dry trimming involves trimming your buds after drying and before curing.

Dry trimming is much easier as wet nougs are so sticky and difficult to work with. Once dried, the buds lose moisture, which means they also become less dense. This makes the process easier as the sugary leaves that need to be trimmed begin to curl, making it easier to identify the material that needs to be removed.

Good luck with the wet trimming, and hope the resin doesn't stain your hands! This is a problem because the resin is very sticky and you don't want to lose it. As the buds dry, the resin will become less sticky and there will be less residue on your hands.

In terms of appearance, dry trimming will create an exceptionally neat product that is definitely worth photographing.

If you don't have time and need to trim your wet buds, then this is certainly possible. Just make sure you're wearing gloves, have isopropyl alcohol on hand, and extra scissors, as they can become clogged and unusable.

Difference between drying and aging

Proper drying and curing is essential after harvesting your plant. This technique preserves cannabinoids and terpenes, enhancing and preserving the flavors of your marijuana while breaking down the plant's vegetal flavors through chlorophyll.

Drying cannabis is a precise practice that requires plenty of time. If you do this too quickly, the insides will remain wet and the outside parts of the bud will become dry. Too much time will result in over-dried buds that will be tough to smoke and have a grassy, stagnant taste.

The aging process is similar to drying, but with certain differences. Drying occurs before or after pruning and occurs when the initial amount of moisture leaves the buds.

You will reduce the water content of your buds by 10 to 15 percent if you dry them properly. Water is removed from the outer layers of the buds, and aging helps further remove any excess moisture content from inside the bud.

Aging begins after the buds have been dried and trimmed. For successful aging, the buds must be stored in containers to maintain an ideal humidity level of around 62 percent. This also helps preserve aromas and flavors.

Aging your buds can take anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months depending on storage conditions.

Best drying setup

After cutting your plant, it is best to leave the buds on the branches as this will make the drying process much easier. You can either hang them on a string or wire, or place them on a drying rack. Carrying a few branches is easier than transporting hundreds of flower buds.

Keep your marijuana in a dark room with a humidity level between 55 and 65 percent, at a temperature of about 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Purchasing a hygrometer is useful and will help you monitor your climate.

To create an effective drying system, you will need the following equipment:

Bud hanging line or drying rack
Fan
Hygrometer
Dehydrator (optional)
Air conditioning (optional)

It is important to circulate air in the room using a fan so that each bud dries evenly. Depending on the climate in your drying room, you may need to install an air conditioner or dehydrator. Humidity or temperature adjustments may be necessary if the drying process takes longer than usual.

How long does the hemp drying process take?

The best method for drying marijuana is to hang the branches on a wire or cord. This ensures even drying and prevents the bud from becoming deformed or flattened in the process. If you plan to dry trim, it is recommended to check the condition of the branches 3 days after you start hanging. A good test for readiness for pruning is to bend a branch with buds: if the stem breaks easily, then the buds are dry and ready for the next step.

If the branch doesn't break, it's best to wait another day before checking again. The drying process usually takes 3 to 7 days, but may take longer depending on the conditions and size of the buds.

How to dry buds without hanging them

If for some reason you are unable to hang your marijuana branches to dry, you may want to consider using a drying rack. These are simply round, flat mesh shelving that is great for air circulation. They usually come with multiple tiers so you can dry enough marijuana at one time. Be sure to leave the buds on the branches even if you use a drying rack, as this is still important for even drying.

Marijuana on a drying rack takes the same amount of time to dry as it does on hanging branches.

Accelerated drying methods

Patience is required when drying and aging marijuana. It is important that the moisture in the buds is perfectly distributed, as this will allow them to reach their full potential. However, in some cases, growers simply cannot wait for this process to complete. Luckily, there are ways to speed up drying, but remember that this may affect the quality of the final product.

Gas or electric heater
To get started, you'll need a gas or electric heater. With this method you can potentially dry large volumes of bud quickly. The area you plan to use should be dry and well ventilated to avoid possible hazards associated with the heater. Make sure your buds are not placed too close together to ensure even drying.

A heater is effective for quickly drying your marijuana, but be careful not to overdo it or you risk ruining your beautiful buds.

Brown Bag Method
This approach can significantly speed up the drying process, cutting it off by just a few days instead of weeks. If you have small popcorn-like buds, you can dry them using a brown paper bag. Simply place a handful of buds in a bag and place it in a cool place for 3-6 days. It's important to remember that too much herb in one bag can interfere with this method, so either use multiple bags or limit the amount to last you a week.

Baking the bud
The fastest way to dry marijuana; Baking buds is most often used to decarboxylate marijuana for cooking. This can also be done to quickly dry your marijuana. Take out the baking sheet and spread a layer of marijuana evenly on it. Set the oven to about 125 and 140 degrees Fahrenheit and place the baking sheet in the oven for 10 minutes. Turn them over halfway so they dry as evenly as possible.

Roasting your buds will result in bad flavor and strong smoke, so be careful. This is the fastest method listed, but also the most variable. It's so easy to ruin the potency of your marijuana even if you bake them a minute longer, so only use this method as a last resort.

Using a microwave oven
The same caution applies here that applies to baking marijuana in the oven. Microwave ovens get hot, so they need to be set to 50 percent power to properly dry marijuana. Microwave your buds for 15 seconds at a time. Let them cool before checking to see if they need additional time.

Dry your marijuana in the sun.
This method is a gentler and more natural way to speed up the drying process of your marijuana, although it is definitely not the fastest. Place your buds in a brown bag and place them in a sunny spot outside. The paper bag will help absorb the moisture and the sun will dry them out a little.

Obviously, this method is based on the fact that it is warm enough outside. After a few days, the buds should be fairly dry, unless the humidity levels in your area are too high.