Drying marijuana buds properly is one of the most important steps to ensure quality, aroma, potency, and flavor in your harvest. If not done correctly, you can lose terpenes, cause unpleasant odors, or allow mold to develop. With this practical guide, you'll learn how to harvest at the right time, prepare your flowers, control temperature and humidity, and finish with proper curing. Whether you grow indoors or outdoors, with LED or HPS lights , this article takes you step-by-step to ensure your buds remain potent, fragrant, and free of defects.
Step 1: Harvest at the right time
- Trichomes : When most of them are milky with an amber percentage, the harvest is ready. This is the best point for resin and density.
- Cutting : entire plant or large branches at the base of the main stem.
Step 2: Preparation before drying
- Leave 10–15 cm of stem to handle without touching the bud and improve ventilation between flowers.
- Remove large leaves . Keeping some foliage helps with more even drying (avoiding "dry on the outside, raw on the inside").
Step 3: Hanging and drying conditions
Ideal space : dark, clean, and ventilated. No direct sunlight (it degrades terpenes and canna ).
- Temperature : 18–20°C (max. 21°C).
- Relative humidity : 50–60% (target 55%).
- Ventilation : gentle air renewal, without direct currents on the buds.
- Hanging : Branches held upside down on ropes or netting. Avoid letting them touch each other .
To maintain stable parameters, use a hygrometer/thermometer and, if necessary, use dehumidifiers .
Step 4: Daily control and exact drying point
- Indicative duration : 7–14 days (depending on density and climate).
- Twig test : Bend a thin twig; if it crackles and snaps instead of bending, it's ready.
- Touch : Firm/crispy exterior; the center should still retain a slight moisture.
Step 5: Curing to fix hardness, flavor and aroma
Curing improves texture, softens the smoke and enhances terpenes.
- Pack in airtight jars (glass) filling to 70–80%.
- Store at 15–20°C and 55–62% RH (humidity control packs such as Boveda/Integra help).
- Open the jars once a day for the first 7–10 days (ventilation) and stir gently.
- Minimum time : 3–4 weeks; optimal : 2–3 months.
If you're missing drying and curing equipment, check out the harvesting and drying .
Common problems and solutions
1) “The buds are fluffy”
- Drying too quickly (heat or low RH). Lower to 18–20°C and raise RH to 55–60%.
- Insufficient curing. Increase the curing time and stabilize the humidity in the jar.
2) “Mold appears”
- Excessive RH/stagnation. Improve ventilation, separate branches, and use a dehumidifier.
3) “They've gone too far for me.”
- Slowly rehydrate in the jar (moisture packs or citrus peel/green leaf for a few hours without direct contact).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where to dry buds?
In a dark room/closet, 18–20 °C and 50–60 % RH, with gentle air renewal.
How long does drying take?
Between 7 and 14 days on average. Very dense flowers or humid climates may require a little more time.
How do you know if they are ready?
The “branch test”: It crackles and splits; the bud is firm on the outside and not rubbery.
What parameters should I monitor?
Use a hygrometer/thermometer and maintain 18–20 °C & 50–60 % RH.
Is it mandatory to cure?
It is not mandatory, but it is key to establishing hardness, improving flavor and softening the smoke.
How to Know When Your Marijuana Buds Are Dry and Hard Enough?
It is key to preventing them from drying out too much or that they keep too much moisture.
- Fold a small branch. If you cross and break instead of bending, the buds are ready. They should not fall completely, since they must have a minimum of moisture.
- A dry buds weighs approximately 75% less than when it was cool .
- If when trying it too much in the throat, it may still have some internal humidity.