Cannabis is a plant that has been used for centuries for its medicinal and recreational purposes. Growing cannabis indoors is a great way to ensure a consistent supply of high-quality marijuana. However, to get the most out of your indoor cannabis plants, you need to know how to harvest and cure them properly.
Growing cannabis indoors can be an exciting and rewarding experience, but it also requires a lot of hard work and attention to detail. Once your plants have reached maturity, the next step is to harvest and cure them. This process is crucial to ensure that your cannabis plants reach their full potential in terms of potency and flavor.
Harvesting and curing indoor cannabis plants may seem straightforward, but it is a process that requires some knowledge and experience to get right. In this article, we will provide you with a step-by-step guide on how to harvest and cure your indoor cannabis plants for optimal potency and flavor.
Harvesting your Indoor/Outdoor Cannabis Plants
Harvesting your indoor cannabis plants involves cutting off the mature buds from the plant. The best time to harvest your plants is when the trichomes (the small resin glands on the surface of the buds) have turned from clear to milky white, with some amber-colored trichomes. This is when the buds are at their peak potency.
Step 1: Prepare your Tools
Before you start harvesting your cannabis plants, you will need to gather some tools. These include a sharp pair of scissors or pruning shears, gloves, and a clean surface to work on. It is very important at this stage to have clean tools, we see some growers with very dirty tools, never use tools that are dirty, they can spread mold and many other nasty things into your jars of buds. Not doing so can ruin a whole jar of buds at best and your whole crop of buds at worst.
Step 2: Cut the Buds
To harvest your cannabis plants, start by cutting off the main stem of the plant, leaving a small piece of the stem attached to each individual bud. Use your scissors or pruning shears to carefully trim off the leaves and branches around the buds, leaving only the mature buds intact.
Step 3: Hang your Buds
Once you have harvested your buds, you will need to hang them up to dry. Use string or wire to tie the buds together and hang them upside down in a cool, dark place with good air circulation. This will help to dry out the buds and remove any excess moisture.
Curing your Indoor Cannabis Plants
Curing your indoor cannabis plants is the process of allowing them to dry slowly over a period of several weeks. This process is essential to enhance the flavor and aroma of your cannabis buds.
Step 1: Prepare your Storage Container
Once your buds have dried for a few days, it’s time to start curing them. To do this, you will need to prepare a storage container. Glass jars are ideal for this, as they are airtight and will help to preserve the flavor and potency of your buds.
Step 2: Place your Buds in the Jar
Carefully place your dried cannabis buds into the jar, making sure not to crush or damage them. The buds should only fill the jar about two-thirds of the way to allow for air circulation.
Step 3: Burp your Jars
During the curing process, it’s important to “burp” your jars every day. This involves opening the lid of the jar for a few minutes to release any built-up moisture and allow fresh air to circulate.
Step 4: Store your Jars
After a few weeks of curing, your cannabis buds will be ready to smoke. Store the jars in a cool, dark place to preserve the flavor and potency of your buds for as long as possible.
Tips for Maximizing Potency and Flavor
Here are some tips for maximizing the potency and flavor of your indoor cannabis plants:
- Use high-quality seeds or clones to ensure the best possible yield and quality.
- Keep your plants healthy by maintaining a consistent temperature and humidity level.
- Use organic nutrients and supplements to get the most of your cannabis plants.
How long can stored cannabis last?
The shelf life of stored cannabis can vary depending on how it is stored and the conditions in which it is kept. Properly cured and stored cannabis can last for up to two years, while improperly stored cannabis can degrade and lose its potency within a matter of months.
The key to preserving the quality of your cannabis is to store it in a cool, dark, and dry place. Exposure to light, heat, and humidity can cause cannabis to degrade and lose its potency over time. Therefore, it is important to keep your cannabis in an airtight container, such as a glass jar, to prevent exposure to air and moisture.
We recommend to store cannabis in a location that is out of reach of children and pets, as well as away from any sources of heat or light. Additionally, it is important to avoid storing cannabis in plastic bags or containers, as this can lead to the growth of mold or mildew.
Overall, the longevity of stored cannabis depends on the quality of the initial harvest, how well it is cured, and how it is stored. With proper storage and care, cannabis can retain its potency and flavor for up to two years, allowing you to enjoy a consistent supply of high-quality buds.
Using a Humidity Pack To Store Cannabis?
A humidity pack is a small packet filled with silica gel or other materials designed to absorb moisture from the air. These packs are often used to help preserve the freshness and quality of food, medicine, and other products that are sensitive to moisture. When it comes to storing cannabis, using a humidity pack can be an effective way to help maintain the proper moisture levels and prevent the growth of mold or mildew.
To use a humidity pack to store cannabis, simply place the pack in your storage container along with your buds. The pack will absorb any excess moisture in the air, helping to keep the humidity level at a safe and stable level. This can help to prevent your buds from becoming too dry or too moist, both of which can negatively impact their flavor, aroma, and potency.
We recommend using cannabis humidity packs that are made especially for storing cannabis long term for a good cure for cannabis plants. They will come with humidity labels on them that will outline what humidity they will keep your cannabis buds at. We recommend pack that keep your bud’s humidity at 58% to 62%. If you are vaping your cannabis 63% desiccant pack are fine. If you are rolling joints we recommend the drier 58% packs.
It is important to note, however, that humidity packs should not be used as a substitute for proper storage practices. While they can help to regulate humidity levels, they cannot protect your buds from exposure to light or heat, or prevent the loss of potency due to improper curing or handling. Therefore, it is still important to store your cannabis in an airtight container in a cool, dark, and dry place, away from sources of heat or light.
Overall, using a humidity pack to store cannabis can be a helpful tool in maintaining the quality and freshness of your buds. However, it is important to use them in conjunction with proper storage practices and to ensure that you are using high-quality cannabis that has been properly cured and handled.
