Come and learn with us how to store your cannabis properly – whether in seed, flower or hash! We will explain everything about this subject so that your herb is always well preserved.
One issue that raises a lot of doubt is the best way to store cannabis so that it is kept in its best condition – after all, one of its biggest enemies is mold, which can ruin everything! And it’s not just the buds that deserve special attention – the seeds and the hash also need a place that is safe from moisture, light and any factor that might decrease its quality.
So, do you want to find out how to store your cannabis in the best way? We explain here how to do it correctly!
Conserving seeds
Did you buy the seeds, but you still don’t want to germinate, or do you want to germinate only a few? Cannabis seeds should be stored in a cool, dry place, with no interference from light. Whether you store your seeds in a freezer, refrigerator or even in a cupboard or drawer, it’s important to leave them there until it’s time to germinate. Rapid temperature changes can damage its genetic integrity. We recommend that they stay in the refrigerator till it’s popping time.
You have a few options to make sure they stay fresh until they germinate:
Seeds stored in a cold, dark environment, such as a refrigerator drawer.
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Will you store them for just a few months? A plastic bag like Ziploc can be perfect, or airtight glass jars.
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For longer storage, a vacuum-sealed package can be safer!
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When keeping seeds in the refrigerator, keep them on the drawer or deeper in the fridge as possible so that they are not exposed to changes in temperature when the door is opened.
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It is also important to note that by freezing the seeds, whenever they are defrosted and returned to the freezer, they become less viable.
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When cannabis seeds are stored properly, they can last up to 10 years!
Where to store your dried cannabis
If you have dry buds or even brick weed, the way of storing may be a little different. There are a few options to ensure that it is always good when you want to use it to roll that beautiful joint:
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In glasses
Glass is great for storing almost any type of substance, as it is inert, hard and non-biodegradable. The downside is that most glass jars are clear and light degrades trichomes – which does not matter if buds or dry cannabis are stored in the dark.
Buds stored in airtight glass can.
To store buds exposed to light, it is best to use UV glass. Our tip here is to choose a jar with an airtight lid! The less air, the better for the conservation and storage of your plant.
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In stainless steel jars
Stainless steel pots, also with hermetic seals, are popular because they are strong and can be stacked. Metal does not interact with cannabis and is impervious to outside air – which guarantees good conservation. In addition, neither moisture nor light can penetrate them.
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Plastics
Not all types of plastic are recommended! Cannabis is slightly acidic and lipophilic, so it degrades some of them. Ziploc bags are popular because they don’t let odors pass, and are inexpensive. However, they are easily pierced by rods and do not provide protection against agitation and movement, which leads to further damage. Our suggestion is to use it only for seeds.
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Desiccants: an important addendum
A desiccant is a substance that removes moisture from the surrounding air. Do you know those little bags of silica that usually come together in tennis boxes or bags? They are important to prevent moisture in transport, that can cause the goods to mold! Packets of silicone, newspaper or anything extra-dry acts as a desiccant and absorbs moisture in a storage container, and are good accessories for storing your cannabis.
There is a huge discussion about the use of this strategy. Some growers say it changes the taste too much, or that it even dries the plant too fast. The important thing is to try out on smaller scales so you can feel if you like it! Testing things is important before you put your whole headstash with it!
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Vacuum packaging
Vacuum packaging is popular because it decreases the amount of oxygen present in packaging. Oxygen is corrosive and degrades the color of cannabis. The diminished presence of oxygen also discourages the growth of bacteria, but not anaerobic bacteria. Anaerobic bacteria thrive in environments with little oxygen or no oxygen, moist and with food. So never close and store wet cannabis!
Fresh cannabis? Learn how to cure it!
If it is a freshly picked bud, or even wet hash – ideally it should go through the drying and curing process. Drying means reducing the bud’s water quantity to 10-15%, depending on the desired crispness of the product. It also ensures that your cannabis becomes more stable, so that its properties are transformed – without being lost.
Here on the blog, we have already published an article by the wonderful Ed Rosenthal, a true cannabis expert, talking specifically about how to dry and cure your buds. Here, we will resume some main points with you:
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There are several ways to do the curing and drying process, and one of the main ways is to use a climate controlled space. The space should be lit with green lamps, either fluorescent or LED, as the green spectrum does not change the material of the plant. The temperature and humidity must be constantly controlled and adjusted, and the air exchange calibrated to the desired volume.
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For the first three days, a temperature of 68°F (20°C) and a relative humidity of 55% will ensure that the bud is left with approximately 30-40% water.
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After that, the temperature should drop a few degrees to 64°F (18°C) to slow down the process. Another critical factor is the humidity of the air: if it is below 50%, the buds will dry out too quickly. A timer and an air control system, with a humidity controller, can help in this process, which should take between 10 and 14 days for the perfect taste.
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Taste is not the only variable affected by the drying process. The effect that the bud will have on the body can also vary. The longer the bud dries, the more THC will turn into CBN and other cannabinoids. So, even talking about the same strain, the effect can be stonier or more agitated, raising or lowering the agitation. The difference between drying for 10 or 14 days is not evident for newbies, but for a connoisseur, there will be a world of difference.
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The process of curing cannabis is similar to the aging process of a good wine. Ed explains that he cures cannabis by packing it in a wooden or cardboard box and pressing it lightly so that some of the trichomes break. After packaging, buds must be left in an environment of 18°C (64°F), with 50% relative humidity and total darkness for a period of 1 to 2 months. Check regularly to ensure the right conditions at all times. Make sure that the humidity remains between 45 and 50% to prevent the formation of mold and fungi.
How to store your hash
We also told here on the blog a special way to cure your hash. Like flowers, it can also go through this process, which further enriches substances. Curing your hashish, under ideal conditions, will preserve its flavor and smoothness and improve potency.
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As with buds, the best way to cure the extraction is in glass jars in a cold, dry and dark place. The difference between them is that the flowers are ready in four to eight weeks, whereas for the proper cure of an extraction one can wait three to four months.
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After that, to keep it, it is necessary to note that there are two main types: the hash made to cure, which is the most traditional, and the fresh hash, made with fresh frozen plants. Fresh hash, as it aims at the total preservation of terpenes, cannot be allowed to degrade – or, to put it simply, to cure it (unless it is cold cure, which is the subject for a next post). In the other case, the logic is the same as the cure of flowers: think about this slow degradation as a way to transform cannabinoids and terpenes in a positive way.
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The ideal is to have an airtight pot, in a dark environment, with mild temperatures.
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If it is frozen material, it is important to store it in the refrigerator; if it is a full melt, store it in the freezer.
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The curing and drying process is not the same as storage, but they communicate to each other. Don’t let your hash over dry or even cure too much under poor conditions.
So, did you like these tips? Well, following these steps, we guarantee a well-preserved cannabis for the best joints of your life. Besides, nobody deserves to lose the herb for fungus, right?
Until next time, with more cannabis tips to improve life – and your high!