After harvesting, curing and drying flowers, you must learn how to preserve them in the best way. It is a fundamental step to protect the quality and potency of the buds of your marijuana plants for as long as possible. But what is the best and popular way to preserve marijuana, and for how long is it possible to do so? In this comprehensive guide on how to best keep marijuana dry, we’re going to explore these questions and many more.
Can marijuana buds lose quality over time?
When food products are near their expiration date, it is normal for them to lose some quality. Fortunately, this is not the case with dry marijuana. The long-term storage of marijuana buds and preserving their quality are easy to achieve if the right conditions for their storage are provided. In fact, according to the Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, cannabinoids can be stable for up to more than two years after being stored and adequately cured.
Dos and don’ts when storing marijuana
Since the buds do not come with expiration dates, you will have to train your eye to identify some negative signs that can appear when conserving marijuana, especially if your current storage method is damaging or deteriorating the quality of your buds. Having an expert eye will allow you to identify improperly stored marijuana and thus be able to take better care of your harvest.
Advantages of good storage
If you store your dried marijuana buds properly, it will be easy to spot the signs of good care. Here are some indicators that you can easily notice:
- Strong aroma: good quality buds that are properly preserved emit a powerful and spicy smell.
- Vivid colors: buds with a dark and bright green color, with amber or orange pistils, and blue or purple notes are good indicators that they have been well stored.
- Intact trichomes: By storing marijuana correctly, the crystalline trichomes of the buds remain intact.
- Sticky but not wet: Well-preserved buds are sticky but not wet. In addition, they have a spongy texture that is not excessively soft.
Make your marijuana last longer: the best way to preserve flowers.
So now that you know the factors that can affect the quality and longevity of your marijuana, what is the best way to preserve it? Thanks to the latest technologies and proven methods, there are various storage options available on the market. Here we present those that have already been tested and have proven to be the best to preserve the quality of your flowers for a long time.
Marijuana Pouches
With the increase in technology and innovation in the cannabis industry, new portable marijuana pouches have been created, specifically designed to ensure good preservation of your buds. Airtight pouches are trendy and are often used by dispensaries when selling their products. There are also a variety of duffel bags and backpacks specifically designed for cannabis. These designs are made with odor-absorbing filters and durable fabrics that are generally water-resistant.
Glass jars
The effectiveness of mason jars for storing marijuana is not a myth. This classic method of preserving marijuana is still as effective as ever. Glass jars are ideal for protecting the potency of dried marijuana buds due to their airtight nature. This helps keep outside air and moisture away from the buds. Make sure your buds only occupy 75% of your jars, as this will allow the necessary amounts of air to circulate so as not to affect the quality of your marijuana. It is also advisable to keep mason jars at a cool temperature and in dark spaces to reduce degradation caused by light and excess heat. And if you want to keep them for a long time, you can also freeze marijuana in mason jars.
Marijuana humidors
As with tobacco, there are specific marijuana containers, such as humidors, which are a good option to preserve your buds for a long time. These containers are typically made of stainless steel, glass, or wood that does not transfer oils. However, do not think that any tobacco humidor can preserve your marijuana since these usually contain propylene glycol for humidity, which is a harmful element for the buds. There are also tobacco humidors made from cedar wood, but their strong aroma can cling to cannabis and affect its overall flavor. If you decide to buy a container for your marijuana, make sure it is specifically designed to hold marijuana flowers.
The freezer
According to a recent study, freezing marijuana may be the best way to preserve it for a long period. After testing different types of storage, the study author concluded that “freezing marijuana is the best way to avoid reducing the cannabinoid content over time.” The study results showed that frozen marijuana buds lost less THC compared to those stored in the refrigerator and in drawers. This has been widely debated in the cannabis industry, with many saying that freezing makes trichomes easy to break.
Now that you know them, you decide to choose which of these methods works best for you.