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The pre-cured cannabis bud looks like your typical nugget. Many tiny, well-packed red-orange hairs protrude from the bud. If you look closely, you can see a few tiny trichomes on the exterior of the flower. It is worth noting that this particular example has been pre-trimmed and has no excess leaves.
After being cured, the nuggets will look like they’ve been rubbed down with baby powder. The hair color will fade to an ashy gray color, and many trichomes will start to fall off. However, it is essential to note that those trichomes contain most cannabinoids and terpenes within the flower.
Many people put small paper or plastic bags over each nugget to prevent it from drying out too quickly when hanging to cure. Make sure not to pack the buds down in these bags too tightly–you want there to be room for air circulation! Another technique people use is to cut open a brown paper lunch bag and place the buds inside it. Still another way is to use a silicon baking tray with many dime-size holes, allowing for airflow.
Many people do not realize that cannabis stems also benefit from curing after harvesting. The stems can be fixed by hanging them to dry out or laying them out on parchment paper. The branches are typically very dense and can take much longer to dry than the bud itself, sometimes upwards of a week to ten days!
Many people prefer vaping because it is fast-acting, and they love the flavor. The bud must be cured appropriately before using it in a vape pen because, otherwise, chances are you will end up with a harsh tasting puff. To avoid this, make sure to dry the buds after harvesting and before cutting them down.
Though cannabis naturally has anti-fungal properties, it is susceptible to mold while growing and curing. It is a good idea to check your flowers frequently for signs of decay or a musty smell. If a few buds have contracted mold while being cured, the problem can be remedied by removing them from the bunch before they begin spoiling other buds nearby.
Many people who smoke cannabis prefer the smoother, more refined flavors of properly cured buds over fresh ones. Curing allows the terpenes in your flower to fully develop and come through when smoking, vaping, or cooking with cannabis. This process takes a few weeks, so be patient!
Some people believe that curing buds increases their potency. Potency, as it pertains to marijuana, means the concentration of THC and other cannabinoids within the bud. A study by J.M. McPartland et al . found that “curing does not increase the total amount of cannabinoids in the bud but instead increases their relative proportion.” The theory is that curing makes the plant material drier. This allows the THC to bind more effectively with the available cannabinoids, increasing potency.
Some people cure their cannabis buds to prevent mold or rot during storage. If you are not planning on smoking your cannabis or cooking with it, curing is a good way of keeping the flowers fresh for a few months before they begin to degrade. Some people recommend storing cannabis in airtight containers with Boveda humidity packs to ensure the flower remains as close to its natural humidity as possible without going bad.
Many advanced cannabis smokers prefer to cure their buds in two separate chambers. This is done by drying the buds for five days and then placing them in an airtight glass jar with a humidity pack attached. After another week of hanging, they are moved to an entirely separate container with no humidity at all. At this point, you can continue drying them if necessary, or you can transfer them to a jar with humidity for another week and enjoy your smooth, tasty smoke!
The drying process is where the magic happens, and curing starts. This stage of the cannabis cultivation process requires patience and discipline. The drying room should be dark and well-ventilated to allow for proper airflow. If the buds are left in direct sunlight or a closed container, they can lose their potency quickly!
Buds should be dried until about 80% of the moisture has evaporated away. Although there is no exact science, it is easy to tell when your buds are dry enough because they will feel lighter, and the stems will snap instead of bend.
If your cannabis is already cured and you want to dry it again, make sure not to place it in a container or jar with humidity because this can re-moisten the flowers and potentially ruin them! Instead, place the buds on a paper towel in an open space.
Once the buds are properly dried, it is time to store them. You can place your cannabis flowers in glass jars or plastic containers with airtight seals. Some people recommend using Mylar bags or food-grade plastic bags instead of traditional storage containers because they are more challenging for air to penetrate and keep out light during curing. These bags can be reused if cleaned well between uses!
Once your cannabis has completely dried and cured, you are ready to smoke it or use it for whatever purpose suits your needs! Happy curing!
After the buds have been properly dried and the moisture level is where you want it, you can move them to a sealable container for storage! It would help if you stored your flower in a cool, dark place that is not constantly fluctuating in temperature. Some people recommend using a refrigerator or freezer but be sure to keep your cannabis away from the coldest areas because this will cause the trichomes to fall off and make it less potent!
Through my years as a Colorado resident and cannabis enthusiast, I’ve noticed a pretty consistent look at cannabis nugs before and after they have been cured.
Of course, the hairs will vary from strain to strain and whatnot, but we can all agree on one thing: it’s still super important to cure your buds!
So let’s talk about the differences between fresh green cannabis nugs and properly dried & cured cannabis nugs! It’ll be an eye-opening experience for some folks, let me assure you.
What Do Cannabis Nugs Look Like Fresh?
A freshly cut bud out of the garden will have wet, sticky icky covered in crystals. These are the glands on the outside of the bud cut off from a lengthy flow of nutrients and water. In many cases, they’re still filled with large amounts of THC-acids, which are not quite THC in their most total capacity, but it’s close!
What Do Colorado Dispensaries Sell That Is Cured Right?
Colorado dispensaries sell cured cannabis nugs that look like they’ve already gone through puberty. The hairs are darker and more mature, the coloration has changed to that classic green color we all know and love, and there is no stickiness or gooeyness about them because they are dry & brittle! What About Colorado Cannabis Strains With Red Hairs?
Colorado cannabis strains with red hairs like Colorado Redhead or Colorado Tickle often look even more vibrant when adequately cured! The contrast of the red coats and the green color inside the bud is fantastic, albeit a bit unappealing for some folks.
What Do Colorado Cannabis Strains Look Like That Are Properly Cured?
Colorado cannabis strains that have been cured will be dark green with medium to long dark orange/brown hairs and a feel so dry it almost hurts to touch! There’s no stickiness left, just an all-around crisp feeling nug. Colorado Dispensary Colorado Bud.
I hope you enjoyed this article & learned something about what Colorado cannabis nugs should look like before and after they’ve adequately cured! Stay tuned for our Colorado Dispensary Colorado Buds series! And as always, keep blazing, my friends. Colorado cannabis nugs don’t need to be gooey and wet when they’re fresh cut. Let your Colorado dispensary budtender know that you prefer perfectly dried & cured Colorado cannabis nugs the next time you visit! It’s all about personal preference and whatnot.
I like my weed like I like my coffee…fresh out of the garden and sticky and glistening with trichomes! What do you think? Reply
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