The Croptober Massacre – When drying and curing go fatally wrong

The 2022 harvest is here, and more marijuana than ever before is set to ruin this crop across America. But shouldn’t we recognize the bounty of the annual harvest? Secure. There will be numerous opportunities to do this. But today we dedicate the harvest to the people who will ruin it.

Some people will follow all the rules all summer long only to ruin their cannabis once they cut it down. Usually it results from a lack of planning for the situation. Sure, it’s possible the occasional power outage or something, but a large percentage of the cannabis ruined in 2022 will be attributed to human error.

To explain proper post-harvest drying and curing, we must first establish the baseline from which we are speaking. Ideally, the surface of the bud is still coated in sticky, excellent resin, and you’ll hear an audible snap when you break the stem 2/16 of an inch from the bottom of the bud structure. Since the best marijuana in the world has to start with this kind of drying and curing, good cannabis is said to start with this process and then move on. However, we’re not discussing the best marijuana there is.

Even if you didn’t have a sense of smell, you could learn a lot about the potency of cannabis from post-harvest processing. So who makes a mess of this? How exactly are they ruining it?

the breeders

Remember to have dirt under your fingernails for five months before you ruin it in the playoffs. For some people, this will no doubt be their harvest story. They’ll probably start spending too much time in the field, and then suddenly in mid-August they’ll find themselves without a solid plan, and whatever they’ve come up with probably won’t do the trick. The cannabis will either be too dry or too hot. The heal will go awry, leaving her with a bag that smells like lawn mower clippings with a hint of OG.

Given the competitiveness of East Coast markets, this sub-par quality will be less desirable than ever. Not even Billy in Ohio will think of scoring a hit. The mid-range weed from Oklahoma and Maine is unquestionably superior to the worst outdoor weed from California. Some farmers who consistently produce inferior produce have criticized the market in recent years. But in truth, many cannabis growers have never dried and cured their crops properly. These growers were routine people who refused to change their habits, costing them fortunes.

The distributions

Undoubtedly, it is not always the fault of the breeder. The company that distributes cannabis may occasionally damage it. After cannabis was legalized in California, the state mandated that distributors ship weed. Several people set up their own distribution companies to vertically integrate their businesses from seed to sale. That means they can grow, supply, and sell marijuana.

However, for any small to medium-sized cannabis grower, starting a distribution company was not a viable choice. Therefore, they were forced to choose companies that would help them get their product onto store shelves, hoping nothing would go wrong in the process. For many years, I was a huge supporter of a NorCal company, but all my friends in Los Angeles said, “Jimi, the problem isn’t the heat.” It was a direct result of the dealer selling the product on the grueling eight-hour drive from downtown Mendocino to Los Angeles. Terps will be permanently destroyed if cooked in a hot truck.

pharmacies

Pharmacies are often not cold enough. The idea is to create the best environment for cannabis after harvest; the grass should be comfortable. So turn down the heat and put on a sweater if you have to. But if that’s disrupting your business strategy because you’re using employee snippets to toggle products, you can only imagine that you have many other challenges in your business.

Any ideal pharmacy should have a barometer reading 60 and a thermostat reading 55. This ensures that the marijuana that arrives at the dispensary has the best chance of staying excellent for as long a period of time as possible. Even under these ideal climate control conditions, you should be aiming for the golden zone by 8 weeks post-harvest.

Tips for optimized drying and curing of cannabis

Local humidity and temperature determine the speed at which cannabis dries. Cannabis enthusiasts never rush the curing and drying process. For best results, use a careful, slow, and calculated approach. Only an inexperienced grower would aim for high quality results by drying their cannabis in a microwave or heater.

The drying process usually takes about a week, but in some cases it may take longer. Some people detach the buds from the branches and place them in brown paper and poultices for a few days to slow the drying process. Brown paper is used because it is unbleached and porous enough to allow moisture to slowly evaporate. Many growers believe that once the branches are dry enough to snap, the remaining moisture is low enough for the buds to begin curing. The exterior of the buds will look a little “crispy” at this point.

Curing will remove any remaining moisture. Curing is crucial if the buds remain mold free for several months, if not a year or two. The buds develop the full perfume and flavor while curing, which brings so much pleasure to the end user. One of the most underrated components of cannabis care is proper drying and curing. The cannabis buds have lost a large percentage of their moisture as they approach curing.

The final stage of curing is the most important aspect of the cannabis supply chain. Glass jars are often used for curing. Plastic is less desirable as the viscous resin on the buds could soften/discolor it. The buds are carefully trimmed and stored in jars, leaving an inch or two at the top. The jars are sealed and placed in a dark place. The jars are then opened once (or twice) a day to allow moisture to escape. Some people call the “burp” of the glasses. A minimum curing time of two to three weeks is recommended.

Conclusion

Why did you leave that heat-generating bag outside? Why didn’t you get a small tent where you can control the climate for drying? Last year your closet tech was terrible. Why did you assume that something will change in 2022? This sentence should not apply to you because there is still time.

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