Why It’s Important to Cure Cannabis

The time has finally come: after weeks of monitoring the conditions and tending to your cannabis plants, the harvest is here. It’s known across the industry that the best cannabis is produced through a combination of premium genetics, innovative cultivation, timely trimming and lastly a thorough – and critical – curing process.

Properly curing your cannabis ensures the production of a smooth, flavorful (and often more potent) smoke – all very desirable traits sought out by consumers. This process is particularly beneficial when you intend to utilize the plant in its flower form.

However, before you start curing cannabis, there are some key factors to consider. Cannabis plants tend to be delicate during every stage of growth and development. Curing is no exception. The slightest deviance in optimal conditions – such as temperature, humidity, airflow, and lighting – will detrimentally impact the quality of your final product.

Let’s have a look at why the curing process is so important, and what types of cannabis curing products are available to help you produce the most potent strains possible.

What is cannabis curing?

Similar to when you are growing cannabis plants, strict environmental conditions must be maintained throughout the entire curing process. When a cannabis plant is not properly cured, residual sugars and minerals remain on the flower causing a burning sensation in the throat when smoking.

The aim of proper cannabis curing is to preserve the original product by retaining the rich flavors, aromas, and nutrients that were developed. Not to mention also maintaining the flower’s cannabinoids.

The curing process allows for the homogenization of humidity and available moisture within dried cannabis flowers through the aging/drying of harvested plants. This enables growers to control the moisture content, while simultaneously decaying the naturally occurring sugars and chlorophyll prior to consumption.

Curing stops the degradation process before significant compounds like terpenes and cannabinoids evaporate or transform into less interesting compounds. An effectively executed curing process will result in cannabis products that have better aromas and flavor profiles, as well as increased potency.

What are the benefits of proper cannabis curing?

Improves Long-Term Storage

Imagine if, after months of hard work and substantial time invested in plant growth, everything got erased. This is any cannabis grower’s worst nightmare. And yet, without proper curing, the likelihood of long-term storage ultimately becomes non-existent.

Curing cannabis extends the shelf life of products for commercial growers. Through the removal of moisture and naturally occurring sugars, the cannabis becomes less susceptible to bacterial growth and therefore is able to be stored for a longer period of time. Uncured cannabis on the other hand can become moldy or develop mildew, causing the product to be unsellable.

During the curing process, cannabis is particularly vulnerable to harmful mold that can cause permanent damage. Cannabis curing products such as Polysprout Harvest/Curing Liners protect against unwanted bacterial growth while still preserving the plant’s quality.

Preserves Active Compounds

The instant a plant is cut, it starts to degrade as enzymes and aerobic bacteria break down excess sugars and starches produced by chlorophyll decomposition. During the curing process, the plant is forced to use those remaining sugars, starches and nutrients before they disappear completely.

If a cannabis plant is not preserved properly after harvesting, the trichomes – where cannabinoids are stored – eventually break down and fall off. This type of loss directly impacts not only the cannabis’ aroma and flavor, but also its ability to produce the euphoric effects consumers expect.

Polysprout Harvest/Curing Liners are an ideal cannabis curing product for protection against the evaporation of terpenes, trichomes and cannabinoids, ensuring the highest potency possible for commercial growers.

Keeps Products Competitive

When all is said and done, the challenge that still remains is continuing to stay ahead of the competition. While curing harvested cannabis helps with the prevention of spoilage, inhibits microbial growth, extends shelf life, and allows for a better consumer experience, it’s not enough if done incorrectly.

The truth of the matter is, without a proper curing process everything that makes your cannabis plants unique will be lost. Establishing a clear and effective curing process ensures the highest degree of quality is maintained, resulting in a better consumer experience.

Commercial growers can set themselves apart from the competition by producing consistent cannabis products with strong potency and terpene levels. By minimizing evaporation, protecting against mold and preserving essential oils Polysprout Harvest/Curing Liners are able to maintain the high-value THC, terpene, and CBD levels consumers desire.

How to Cure Cannabis

Known in the industry as an artisanal process – curing is where the aromas, flavors and cannabinoid effects get preserved. Before beginning, the initial drying stage needs to be completed. Once this step has finished the curing can start.

Considering there are several different methods for properly curing cannabis, it’s essential to determine what is going to be the best option for your strain. In order to dial in on the best process possible, we recommend testing a couple of small batches first.

Regardless of how you dry your cannabis, it will need to be trimmed before curing. When this is done, the plants are loosely packed inside glass-lined vessels meant for large-scale production. The containers then need to be placed in a cool, dry and dark spot – some moisture development inside is expected. It’s important to monitor the curing of cannabis closely, ensuring the vessels are opened several times per day during the first week to let the flowers “breathe”.

Throughout the curing process, the vessels must be regularly checked for signs of mold or fungi. Any infected buds should be disposed of immediately in order to avoid contaminating the whole supply.

Cannabis is most vulnerable to several harmful types of mold during the curing process. In order to protect your plants, our Polysprout Harvest/Curing Liners are engineered to ensure the terpenes are preserved with moisture levels that don’t lead to mold while protecting against the evaporation of terpenes, trichomes and the destruction of cannabinoids.

The timeline for curing cannabis will vary depending on which method you choose to follow.