How to Dry Cannabis Fast
Drying cannabis is an important step in the process of marijuana cultivation. It is necessary to dry cannabis buds completely in order to achieve the best results. There are a few different methods you can use to dry cannabis quickly. In this article, we will discuss five different methods and their advantages and disadvantages.
Hang Dry Cannabis
Using A Dehydrator to dry Marijuana Buds
Brown Paper Bags
Can you Dry Weed in an Oven?
Using A Microwave for Drying Weed
Curing cannabis is a critical step in the cultivation process. After waiting months for your plants to grow buds, then have those buds mature, now you are tasked with harvesting and drying the buds. Of course, you want to try your freshly grown buds, but you have to dry and cure your weed first.
Patience is your best friend because if you cut down your buds and try to smoke them, you will be blessed with the most unpleasant experience your lungs will ever have. This challenge is common among first-time growers and experienced growers. So let's dive into the best way to cure weed fast.
Hang dry cannabis
If you want to dry your weed quickly, the best way to do it is by hanging it. This is the most traditional way to dry cannabis and it is also the most effective. To hang dry cannabis, you need to cut down the weed and trim it. We'll go over wet and dry trimming below so be sure to read up on that.
The hanging method can take a few days or up to two weeks for freshly harvested buds. This method is the best way to preserve the terpenes and cannabinoids in your buds. It is also the best way to avoid mold or bacteria from growing on your buds.
Best location to hang dry your buds
Boiler Room
The boiler room is the ideal location to hang dry your weed. The boiler room is typically dark, has little to no light, and is humid. These are all ideal conditions for drying cannabis. A boiler room is not a high-traffic area so the drying process can take place uninterrupted.
Closets
Another great location to hang dry your weed is in a closet. Closets typically have little to no light and are not high-traffic areas. You can safely tuck your weed in there, shut the door, and dry your weed.
Grow Tent
If you have a grow room or grow tent, you can use that as your designated drying area. Grow tents are great because they lock out all the light so your marijuana buds will be in total darkness.
Cardboard Box
If you don't have a boiler room, closet, or grow room, you can use a cardboard box. Line the inside of the box with dark trash bags or sheets and poke holes in the top for ventilation. Place your weed inside the box and close it up. You can also run strings or sticks along the top of the box to make nifty weed hangers.
If you don't have any of the above, then any dark, humid location will suffice. A closet or cupboard will work as well.
Note: A fan blowing directly on your weed will dry it out too quickly and ruin the buds.
Wet Trimming
Wet trimming is the process of cutting off the fan leaves and sugar leaves from your weed plant once you harvest it.
Benefits of wet trimming:
Easier to remove fan and sugar leaves.
Weed will dry faster since less plant material has to dry out.
Provides better air circulation.
Dry Trimming
Dry trimming is done when the plants have dried out, but before curing. The leaves curl up and are more difficult to remove when dry trimming.
Benefits of dry trimming:
Preserves more flavor and aromas
Whichever method you decide to go with, the basics of trimming weed are the same:
To start you cut the stalks into manageable pieces.
Next, begin cutting from the bottom of the plant removing all the fan leaves.
Remove the buds from the stalk starting with the lowest bud.
Start removing sugar leaves from the bottom of the bud and work your way up until all leaves are removed.
Use a dehydrator to dry cannabis
The use of a dehydrator to dry your weed is not recommended. Dehydrators are designed to dry out food quickly and evenly and they do a great job of it. The problem is that your weed will suffer from a loss of taste, aroma, and quality smoke.
After taking months of time to grow, it is important not to take any shortcuts. The drying and curing process is critical for your bud to reach its' maximum potential.
The drying process is completed when you hear the "snap" sound when you bend one of the bud stems. The bud should crack off and/or you should hear a loud snap. If the buds do not snap when you bend the stem, wait another day and try again. Patience is important so don't rush the process.
What is Curing weed?
After drying your buds, you would figure you would be ready to smoke it, right? Wrong!
Curing your weed is an important step in the process that should not be skipped. Curing is the process of allowing your weed to slowly dry out while sealing in all the moisture. This is done by storing your weed in airtight containers.
The curing process allows for a slow and controlled loss of moisture which helps preserve the taste, smell, and potency of your weed. If you do not cure your weed, it will be harsh to smoke, have a terrible taste, and will not get you as high.
How does curing work?
Curing also allows for the breakdown of chlorophyll in your weed. Chlorophyll is what gives plants their green color and is also what makes weed taste and smell earthy.
The curing process takes anywhere from 2-8 weeks depending on how you cure your weed. If you want to cure your weed quickly, you can do a wet trim which will speed up the process.
When curing your weed, it is important to check on it regularly and open the containers to allow for air circulation. If you notice any mold or mildew, throw out the affected weed immediately.
Curing Containers
The best container to cure weed is mason jars. They have an airtight seal, come in many different sizes, and are made from glass which will not give your weed a nasty taste.
Best Way to Cure Your Buds
Use air-tight mason jars
Keep your buds in a dark place away from direct sunlight
Keep your dry weed away from extreme heat and cold
Room temperature works well for curing
Use humidity packs. 62% relative humidity is the magic number
Open your jar(s) for 10 minutes during the first week of curing to allow fresh air into the container
Properly cured buds will smell dank and spring back when you press the bud.
If the buds crumble when pressed, your marijuana buds are too dry.
Note: Properly dried and cured buds should be springy and bounce back when pressed between your fingers.
Brown Paper Bag Method
Using brown paper bags is an interesting way of drying your bud. The brown paper bag method is not ideal, but it can be done in a pinch. You can use a brown paper bag for drying freshly harvested weed, but some of the catches are:
You can only do a small batch at a time
Weed needs to be trimmed down to the bud
There needs to be ample space between the buds so they don't get moldy
To dry in brown bags, trim your weed down to the bud. This means removing the bud from the stem and removing all the fan and sugar leaves. Once your weed is trimmed, put it in the brown paper bag with plenty of room between the buds and seal the bag.
Make sure to check on your weed daily and remove any buds that are starting to mold.
Can you Dry Weed in an Oven?
It is possible to dry your weed in an oven. Using an oven will dry weed fast but there is a price to pay for this express service. Your buds will suffer from losing a lot of their THC which results in less potent buds. We understand that you want to smoke your buds once harvested and if you try the oven method below use a small amount before going crazy and throwing all your hard work in the oven.
How to Quick Dry Buds In Your Oven
Set the oven to its lowest temperature. This will vary for each oven so consult your owner's manual if you need help.
Place your buds on the oven racks. Use the oven racks rather than cookie sheets because the racks allow for good air flow.
Tip: You can crack your oven door to help lower the temperature. I don't recommend doing this but some people do it.
Turn your buds every five minutes.
Small buds work best for this method.
There are no guidelines as to when the buds are ready so take them out when you feel they have dried out enough.
Note: You need to be careful not to over-dry your buds, which can cause them to lose potency. Also, THC vaporizes at 250F so be careful.
Using A Microwave for Drying Marijuana
Although it is possible to dry your weed in an oven, the microwave is a much quicker and more efficient way to do it. The microwave will dry your weed in a fraction of the time that it would take in an oven. Please keep in mind that using a microwave is less than ideal so only dry a small amount of your precious buds.
To use the microwave for drying weed, first trim your weed down to the bud. This means removing the bud from the stem and removing all the fan and sugar leaves.
Once your weed is trimmed, place it in a microwave and set it on high. Check your buds every 15-20 seconds until they reach the desired moisture level.
Drying Process Conclusion
Drying cannabis is an important step in the process of marijuana cultivation. It is necessary to dry cannabis buds completely in order to achieve the best results. In this article, we have discussed six different methods and their advantages and disadvantages. The best way to dry your weed is by using air-tight mason jars with humidity packs at a relative humidity of 62%. If you are in a hurry, you can use the brown paper bag method or the oven method but keep in mind that your buds will lose potency if dried using either of these methods. The microwave is a quick and efficient way to dry your weed, but it should only be used for small batches.
If you have any questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below. Please keep your comments productive and kind. We are all here to learn about marijuana and become better growers.
FAQ
How long does it take to dry weed?
It depends on the method you use. If you are using the brown paper bags method, it will take 3-7 days. If you are using the oven method, it will take 1-2 hours. If you are using the microwave method, it will take 15-20 seconds per bud.
What is the best drying process?
The best way to dry weed fast is to use the hanging method. This tried and true method provides you with potent buds that are high in THC. Buds that are hung dry have the best flavor, good aroma, and the smoke will be smooth and tasty.
What is the best way to cure weed?
The best way to dry weed is by using air-tight mason jars with humidity packs at a relative humidity of 62%. This will preserve the THC and terpenes in your buds and result in a more potent weed.
Can I use a hair dryer to dry my weed?
Never use a hair dryer to dry your buds.
How do you dry out wet bud?
Wet bud should be left to dry until it is fully ready. Be patient and wait until the buds break easily off their stems before you proceed to the curing stage. If you are already curing your marijuana you can dry out the wet weed by using a brown paper bag and sealing the bag until the excess moisture is gone.
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