The Importance of Curing Cannabis
Curing your cannabis buds is essential for bringing out their full potential in flavour and quality. While the drying and curing processes significantly improve your buds, they also require careful attention to prevent mould growth, which can ruin your harvest.
What Is Bud Rot?
Bud rot, scientifically known as Botrytis cinerea, is a type of mould that thrives in humid conditions. It can develop while the plant is still alive, during the drying phase, or even during curing. The mould initially appears at the stem and spreads outward, making it challenging to detect without close examination.
At first glance, bud rot may look grayish-white. If you catch it early, removing the infected areas can save the rest of the bud. However, if the mould has reached the surface, the entire bud could be lost.
Bud rot can be compared to an iceberg, with damage underneath the surface often being more extensive than what is visible. Affected buds will become gooey and lose their structure. As the mould grows, it releases spores that can infect surrounding healthy buds.
While it's impossible to prevent all mould spores from entering your curing environment, understanding the conditions that allow mould to thrive can help you manage it effectively.
Make sure your cannabis is fully trimmed before starting the curing phase. The buds should not crumble when squeezed and should feel dry, with stems snapping easily when bent.
Once you are confident that your buds are ready, place them into airtight jars to begin the curing process. Moisture from the stems and buds will escape into the air inside the jars, and this excess humidity can put the buds at risk for mould growth.
Products and Methods to Prevent Cannabis Mould
To manage humidity during curing, two-way humidity regulator packets are effective. These packets usually maintain either 62% or 55% relative humidity (RH).
The 62% RH packet helps keep your cannabis from drying out or developing mould during the curing process. As curing progresses, you can switch to the 55% RH packets if you prefer to dry your product further. These packets come with indicators to show when they need to be replaced and can last for weeks or months, depending on the climate and moisture level of your buds.
Another useful method to prevent mould is "burping" your jars—opening them at regular intervals to release humid air. This is typically done 2 to 4 times a day at the beginning of the curing process and less frequently as the relative humidity decreases.
Curing your cannabis is the final step before enjoying the fruits of your labour. No matter how impressive your buds look after drying, a proper curing process will always enhance the final product.
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Liz Filmer
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