If you want your weed to last, you have to store it properly. Improper storage lets your dried flower come into contact with too much air, reducing the quality of the terpenes and cannabinoids. If the container gets too moist, on the other hand, you could end up growing mould on the bud.
A balanced storage environment will keep your buds aromatic, potent, and free of natural contaminants. Here’s what you should do to store your weed properly!
Keep It In A Cool, Dark Environment
High temperatures can dry out your cannabis, evaporating the terpenes. That means you shouldn’t set it near a heater, water system, or outside. But you also want to avoid freezing temperatures because they can burst the delicate trichomes and cause your bud to lose potency. Closets, pantries, drawers, or even a dark corner can work well.
It’s essential to keep the weed out of the sun, as UV light breaks down the cannabinoids and terpenes. Always store your containers in a dark place; if you enjoy displaying your weed, keep it in a container that shields it from the sun’s rays.
Keep It Dry
Moisture makes dried cannabis attract mould. Maintain proper humidity levels in your storage environment, with a relative humidity of between 59% and 63%. Don’t store your bud in the refrigerator – the fluctuations in temperature and humidity will increase your chances of growing mould.
As we mentioned earlier, weed can’t get too dry without degrading the compounds that make it great. You might think this is an oxymoron – isn’t my weed already dried? – but drying further than what the processor offered can make it worse. Drying dehydrates cannabis until it has a moisture content of less than 15%. The processor then cures it so that the remaining moisture is slowly removed, retaining the volatile oils.
When you lose too much humidity, the weed loses its integrity, becoming brittle and diminishing the essential terpenes that give it potency and taste. However, high temperatures and high relative humidity are the perfect conditions for mould and mildew growth. Make sure that your weed is in a spot that’s around 21 degrees Celsius (70 degrees Fahrenheit).
What Container Should I Use?
There’s some debate over what you should use for long-term storage. Plastic containers tend to have a static charge, and this can cause trichomes to fall off the buds and stick to the sides of the container. Metal can be a short-term solution, but this material will affect the aroma and flavour after a while.
The best option is glass. This material is airtight, nonporous, and suitable containers come in many shapes and sizes. Mason jars are one of the best tools for preserving the potency of the flower and preventing buds from drying up, losing their flavour, or becoming mouldy. You can also use airtight jars with rubber seals specifically made for weed.
If you’ve been thinking about getting a humidor, don’t buy one intended for cigars. They can make your weed taste like the wood of the box – usually cedar. Cannabis-specific humidors are made from other types of wood and won’t affect the flavour.
If you follow our recommendations, your cannabis should have a stable shelf-life of a year, maybe more. While weed doesn’t often go bad (unless it grows mould), proper storage maintains the potency, flavour, and aroma you come to expect from your favourite strains for as long as possible!