How to Cure and Preserve Marijuana: A Practical Guide
Once the drying is finished and it has been verified that the buds have reached adequate dryness, we will proceed to the curing of the marijuana.
As we indicated in the article on drying marijuana, curing complements drying to perfect the quality of the buds in aroma, flavour and potency.
It is a procedure comparable to the ageing process applied to wine.
Tras el secado, los cogollos todavía contienen clorofila. Durante el curado buscamos reducir ese sabor “verde” y el proceso suele durar entre 4 y 8 semanas. Asimismo se producen reacciones de maduración de cannabinoides y terpenos: el THC-A va perdiendo su forma ácida y se transforma en THC psicoactivo, lo que incrementa la potencia de los cogollos.
Some growers prolong curing for up to a year, but this can degrade some of the THC and lessen the psychoactive effect. In addition, a fraction of the THC can be converted to CBN, giving more sedative or narcotic effects. The choice depends on the user and the use you want to give cannabis.
We can use different systems for curing marijuana:
Airtight glass jars.
Cedar wood boxes (the best known are the 00Box Boxes).
Cardboard box.
The simplest, most economical and effective option is to use hermetically sealed glass jars. They should have a wide enough mouth to insert the buds easily.
Conditions for curing
Fill the jars with the buds and place them in a dark and cool place.
Keep the temperature below 26 ºC and a relative humidity between 55% and 65% so that curing proceeds slowly and in optimal conditions.
Do not compact the buds; leave room for air to circulate between them.
The jar must be opened periodically and left without a lid for about an hour before closing it again. If you use a wooden or cardboard box, move the buds in a similar way.
The recommended opening pattern is as follows:
First week: 1 time a day.
Second week: 1 time every 3 days.
Following weeks: 1 time per week.
Al principio, al abrir el recipiente notarás que los cogollos están algo húmedos o “sudan”; es un comportamiento normal mientras se elimina el exceso de agua.
As the weeks go by, you'll notice that the buds regain a crispier texture when you open them.
Preserving marijuana after curing
To store the cured marijuana you need an opaque and airtight container. They can be glass jars or vacuum packaging bags. Avoid wooden boxes if you are looking for a watertight closure.
The best alternative is vacuum packaging bags, as they prevent the entry of air and reduce the oxidation of the resin glands.
With proper packaging and storage you can maintain the harvest for up to a year without appreciable loss of psychoactivity. Even when stored in a refrigerator and well packaged, it can be kept for between 2 and 3 years.
Remember that in our marijuana seed bank Genehtik you can acquire several quality and guaranteed genetics.