You might have heard numerous growers talking about curing and drying cannabis in a paper bag. The question is, does it work, and if so, is it suggested? The response is yes! Lets take a more critical look at how to dry cannabis in paper bag and the upsides of this process.
Numerous growers overlook it, but drying and curing your cannabis buds is a significant stage to ensuring an ideal final product. Whether youre a fledgling grower or an accomplished one, you know how much effort and attention growing marijuana requires.
If you dry cannabis in paper bag correctly, there are a few reasons why paper bags can prove to be useful at the finish of the drying process.
Drying cannabis buds properly after harvest is one of the most critical steps to ensuring maximum quality and potency. While there are various methods for drying buds, using paper bags is a proven technique used by many expert growers. In this comprehensive guide we’ll explain everything you need to know about successfully drying your sticky harvest in paper bags.
Why Drying Buds in Paper Bags Works
Drying cannabis in paper bags allows careful control over the process, helping preserve terpenes and cannabinoids The porous bags absorb excess moisture from the buds while allowing air circulation. This creates an ideal microclimate for even drying
Paper bags also let growers easily monitor humidity levels around the buds using hygrometers. With this level of control, it’s possible to prevent over-drying that degrades trichomes and terpenes The result is buds that retain their full aroma, flavor, and potency when gently dried in paper bags.
Compared to traditional hang drying methods, paper bag drying takes up less space and works well for small harvests. However, the bags require daily checking to avoid potential mold issues in the moist environment. But when done properly, this specialized technique can maximize quality.
Step-by-Step Guide to Drying Cannabis in Paper Bags
Follow these steps for expert-level results drying your sticky harvest in paper bags:
Choose High-Quality Bags
- Select unbleached brown paper bags with a lightweight, breathable texture.
- Avoid plastic-coated or heavyweight bags that block airflow.
- Bags should be large enough to hold buds without crowding.
Prepare the Buds
- Trim off larger leaves, but leave some sugar leaves if desired.
- Break up larger colas into smaller buds 3-4 inches long. This increases surface area for drying.
Place Buds in Bags
- Distribute buds evenly along the bottom of bags in a single layer.
- Don’t overpack them or use multiple layers, as this prevents air circulation.
- Fold tops over once or twice to allow airflow while containing buds.
Control Humidity
- Monitor humidity around bags with a hygrometer, keeping levels around 60-65%.
- Use dehumidifiers if needed to prevent mold growth from excess moisture.
Check Buds and Rotate Daily
- Inspect buds closely each day for any signs of mold development.
- Gently shake and rotate bags to evenly expose buds to circulating air.
Monitor Dryness
- Test buds by squeezing. When outside feels dry but inner stem seems slightly damp, after 5-7 days, they are ready for curing.
- Ideal humidity at this point is around 62%.
Cure Buds
- Once dried, transfer buds into airtight glass jars to cure for 4-6 weeks.
- Continue burping jars to control humidity during the curing process.
Tips for Optimal Drying in Paper Bags
Follow these tips when drying buds in paper bags:
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Choose a dark, cool, dry space around 60-70°F to place bagged buds, avoiding direct light.
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Check bags at least once daily, inspecting buds closely for any moist areas with mold risk.
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Gently shake and redistribute buds in the bags daily to promote even drying on all sides.
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Monitor humidity closely both in bags and the drying space using hygrometers.
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Add desiccant packets to bags if needed to absorb excess moisture.
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If any buds feel moist, transfer them to fresh dry bags to prevent mold spread.
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Be patient and allow buds to dry slowly over 5-7 days to maximize terpene preservation.
The Impact on Quality and Potency
Gentle handling of buds when drying in paper bags helps retain more trichomes and terpenes compared to hang drying branches. The delicate terpenes that provide aroma and flavor degrade quicker when exposed to too much heat, light, and air.
Paper bags create an ideal microclimate, protecting terpenes from light while allowing just the right amount of airflow. This preservation of terpenes results in better flavor, smell, and effects when buds are slowly dried in paper bags compared to alternative methods.
Controlled, patient drying also helps maintain potency. Buds dried too quickly often lose more THC compared to those dried under ideal conditions until just the right moisture level remains. Proper paper bag drying locks in cannabinoids and terpenes for maximum quality.
Is Drying Cannabis in Paper Bags Worth It?
While hang drying branches works fine, the specialized paper bag technique offers some clear benefits:
Pros:
- Preserves more terpenes
- Controls humidity closely
- Takes up less space
- Faster, more even drying
- Minimizes handling of trichomes
Cons:
- Labor intensive daily monitoring
- Risk of mold if conditions are improper
- Limited to smaller harvests
- Less airflow than hanging plants
For many small-scale growers, the advantages of optimized flavor, aroma, and potency outweigh the extra effort required. When executed correctly, drying in paper bags can take your harvest to the next level.
Achieving Peak Quality From Paper Bag Drying
Proper cannabis drying and curing techniques significantly influence the end product’s quality. The gentle environment created in paper bags can protect delicate trichomes and terpenes better than alternative methods. With careful control of humidity, the bags dry buds evenly, preventing degradation.
While an extra labor of love, paper bag drying allows growers to dial in perfect conditions for smoothly curing sticky buds until they reach peak perfection. Follow the steps outlined above, stay diligent, and let those paper bags work their magic!
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You might have heard numerous growers talking about curing and drying cannabis in a paper bag. The question is, does it work, and if so, is it suggested? The response is yes! Lets take a more critical look at how to dry cannabis in paper bag and the upsides of this process.
Numerous growers overlook it, but drying and curing your cannabis buds is a significant stage to ensuring an ideal final product. Whether youre a fledgling grower or an accomplished one, you know how much effort and attention growing marijuana requires.
If you dry cannabis in paper bag correctly, there are a few reasons why paper bags can prove to be useful at the finish of the drying process.
Play The Waiting Game
To properly dry cannabis in paper bag, if the humidity level in the bag is under half, your marijuana should be completely dried in anywhere from four to seven days, depending on how much marijuana you have in the brown paper bags, and how moist it was, to begin with, to has relative humidity.
After around seven days at most, your marijuana should now be ready for the curing stage.
If your weed is somewhat clammy and not all out soggy, you can add a humidity pack to your storage container to assist with drawing out the moisture.
Allow the container to sit for as long as 3 days after the pack is put to draw out the moisture.
The pack will store the moisture so it doesnt debase the buds, but it can also add moisture back to your weed if it gets too dry in storage.
Avoid these 5 Mistakes when Drying Cannabis!
FAQ
What is the best method to dry buds?
The ideal climate to dry and cure is between 60−70° Fahrenheit with a relative humidity level of 45−55%. There are two ways to dry your buds: upside-down hanging and rack drying.
How long does it take to dry herbs in a paper bag?
It will take 1 – 3 weeks for the herbs to dry, depending on your humidity level. Using a paper bag keeps dust off of the drying herbs and allows you to collect any leaves (or in the case of cilantro, any seeds) that may fall. They are ready once the leaves become crumbly to the touch.
Does a paper bag absorb moisture?
Paper is a natural hygroscopic material and thus likes to absorb or desorb moisture from the environment until equilibrium is met.Aug 24, 2020
What does hanging a brown paper bag do?
The idea behind this simple hack is that a brown paper bag can double as a fake wasp nest. When you inflate it and hang it up outside the house, it creates a phony territorial threat. To avoid conflict, the carpenter bees will, theoretically, keep their distance.