How to dry and cure cannabis
Dry cannabis in a dark room at 60-70°F and 45-55% relative humidity for 7-14 days. Cure the dried flower in airtight glass jars at 58-62% relative humidity for 2-4 weeks. Open the jars for 10-15 minutes each day in the first week. These steps apply to hemp flower and cannabis flower.
Cannabis Drying and Curing Methods: Step-by-Step Guide
What you need
- Hygrometer
- Dark room
- Fan for indirect airflow
- Drying rack or lines
- Airtight glass jars
- Jar hygrometers
- Pruning shears
- Gloves
Step 1: Harvest and trim
Cut stems at the base. Remove fan leaves. Keep sugar leaves on the buds for drying. Hang whole branches or place buds on a rack. Leave space between branches. Do not pack buds in a pile.
Step 2: Set the drying room
Keep the room dark. Set temperature at 60-70°F. Set relative humidity at 45-55%. Run a fan at low speed. Point the fan at a wall. Do not point it at the buds. Air moves through the room and around the buds.
Cannabis Drying and Curing: Temperature, Humidity, and Timing
Step 3: Dry for 7-14 days
Check stems each day after day 5. A dry stem snaps when bent. A wet stem bends. Buds feel dry on the outside and sticky on the inside. Small buds dry in 7 days. Large buds and dense branches can take 14 days. High humidity slows drying. Low humidity speeds drying.
Step 4: Trim and jar
Trim dried buds over a tray. Cut sugar leaves close to the bud. Fill glass jars 75% full. Leave 25% air space. Add a hygrometer to each jar. Close the lid. Keep jars at 60-70°F. Keep jars out of light.
Step 5: Cure for 2-4 weeks
Open each jar for 10-15 minutes each day in week 1. Open jars for 10-15 minutes every 2-3 days in week 2. Open jars once each week after week 2. Turn buds in the jar at each burp. Jar humidity target is 58-62%. If humidity is above 65%, leave the lid off for 30 minutes and check again. If humidity is below 55%, add a humidity pack.
Step 6: Store
Store cured flower in airtight jars. Keep jars at 60-70°F. Keep jars away from light and heat. A cure runs 2-4 weeks. Some growers cure for 8 weeks. Check jars each week. Mold looks white, gray, or black and has a musty smell. Discard buds with mold.
Common mistakes
- Drying at high heat. Heat drives off terpenes.
- Drying in light. Light degrades cannabinoids.
- Jarring wet buds. Wet buds grow mold.
- No hygrometer. Guessing jar humidity leads to mold or dry flower.
- Packing jars full. Buds need air space.
CBD hemp flower note
CBD hemp flower follows the same dry and cure steps. Hemp buds often have less density than cannabis buds. Check stems at day 5. Test jar humidity before a long cure. Lab tests for CBD and THC need dried flower, not wet flower.