How to dry and cure cannabis properly – the complete guide

Drying and curing is where good bud becomes GREAT bud. Here's my process after 15 years:

Drying:

Hang whole plants or branches upside down
Temperature: 60-65°F (15-18°C)
Humidity: 55-65%
Air circulation (fan in the room, NOT blowing on buds)
Complete darkness
Duration: 7-14 days
Done when small stems snap (not bend)

Curing:

Trim buds and place in glass mason jars (fill 75% full)
Open jars 2-3x daily for first week ("burping")
Reduce to 1x daily for week 2
After week 2, burp every few days
Minimum cure: 2 weeks. Ideal: 4-8 weeks
Keep jars in cool, dark place

Humidity in Jars:

Target: 58-62% RH
Use Boveda 62% packs as insurance
If buds feel wet, leave jar open for a few hours
If buds feel too dry, add a fresh fan leaf briefly

The longer you cure, the smoother the smoke. Most commercial cannabis is barely cured. Home-grown, properly cured bud is a different experience entirely.

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3 Comments

Experienced5mo ago

The low temperature drying tip is SO important. I used to dry at 70-75°F and the terps would evaporate. Dropped to 60°F and the difference in smell/flavor is massive.

Also: if you're in a dry climate, a humidifier in the drying room is a game changer. You want that 7-14 day dry, not a 3-day speed dry.

Expert Grower5mo ago

The curing step is what separates amateur weed from top-shelf quality. I know it's hard to wait 4+ weeks when you have fresh bud sitting there, but trust the process. At week 4, the smoothness and flavor are completely transformed.

Experienced5mo ago

Boveda packs saved my curing game. I used to overthink the burping schedule — now I just toss a 62% pack in each jar and check weekly. Perfect humidity every time.

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How to dry and cure cannabis properly – the complete guide

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