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here: Issue #306 - Sunday, February 25, 2018
Dear Fellow Grower,
In today's issue... - What's the best way to store weed? Learn the best way to stash your cannabis so it stays potent and fresh for years!
- Whether you're going small-scale or trying to stay stealthy, fluorescent lighting remains a great option for growing weed. But which type should you use?
- As an indoor grower, trophy pics like the kind we're featuring this week are a bit painful. Why?
Because I can't ever let a cannabis plant get this huge indoors!
Nebula Haze & Sirius Fourside (founders of GrowWeedEasy.com) "Weeds are flowers too,
once you get to know them."
~A. A. Milne
How to Store Weed Properly
(So It Never Loses Smell or Potency!) by Nebula Haze |
When it comes to storing your cannabis, the method you choose makes a huge difference in how long your buds maintain potency and freshness.
But what's the best way to store weed? Is it vacuum-sealing? Will freezing your buds hurt them in some way?
I've tried a few different methods for storing marijuana over the years, and today I want to share what works and what hasn't worked for me!
Properly Stored Weed Looks Full and Sparkly, with at Least a Little Color Left
(Marijuana buds are often green with orange
hairs, but sometimes you'll see other colors like purple or pink)
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Improperly Stored Buds Start Turning Brown and Crumbly
(brown or tan weed isn't necessarily bad, as well-cured cannabis also loses color, but brown and crumbly nugs are often old or weren't stored in an airtight container. If there are random brown patches on otherwise good-looking weed, it could also be a sign of mold) Note: Some people prefer the effects of wet-cured or very long-cured buds, which can cause buds to take on a mostly brown or tan appearance. In that case, buds should still "stay together" and not be crumbly. Although there may be exceptions, usually buds that have turned brown are losing their overall potency and smell as time goes on. How to Store Cannabis Properly (so it lasts for years!)
If you grow a lot of cannabis at once, you may want to store it so that it lasts until your next crop comes in. Some growers only harvest once a year (especially outdoor growers) and may need their bud to last until the next fall harvest.
Luckily, it's pretty easy and cheap to store your
bud. You don't need any special equipment besides an air-tight glass jar!
Air-tight glass jars are the best place to store cannabis buds! Here are the main methods and tools for storing cannabis, with the pros and cons of each:
What's the Best Method for Cannabis
Storage?
1.) Store in Glass Mason Jars in Cool, Dark Place
Storing buds in a cool, (60-70°F or 15-21°C) dark place in an airtight glass container is the most popular cannabis storage method. It's simple and effective. Quart-sized glass mason jars are found everywhere from grocery stores to home improvement stores. These
are often used for cooking (making preserves or marinades for example), but when it comes to storing cannabis they help maintain potency by protecting buds from moisture and air. Glass jars completely contain smells and will also prevent buds from getting crushed. Make sure jars are at least 3/4 full so there's not too much air being stored in with the cannabis (if you have less bud, use smaller glass jars). Buds stored in airtight glass jars in a cool, dark place will maintain their potency for
a year or more. In fact, peoples perceived potency of buds often gets stronger over time. 2.) Freeze Your Buds (Best for Long-Term Storage)
Once buds are completely dry and have been stored for at least 4 weeks, you can freeze them and they will
maintain their potency for years. Some growers double-bag buds in Ziploc "Freezer" bags and then wrap the bags in foil. This works okay but you can actually store your buds directly in glass mason jars. If you've got a lot of buds which need to be stored for a long time (multiple years), the freezer is
the best way to do it!
It's best to store buds in glass jars when using the freezer
If you can't use glass jars, use bags labeled for the Freezer (they are thicker and more airtight than regular plastic bags) Note: You should avoid handling frozen buds as the trichomes (glitter) become brittle and can easily break off at freezing temperatures. Always let frozen buds come to room temperature before handling. 3.) Refrigerate Your Buds (Avoid!)
Buds stored in the fridge tend to mold, even in air-tight containers. Either keep buds outside the fridge or put them in the freezer. If you must use the fridge, it's especially important to make sure buds are completely dry to avoid mold and keep them in
the back in a crisper where the temperature and humidity don't fluctuate as much. But again, if possible you should avoid using your refrigerator to store buds; a regular cabinet or drawer is almost always better.
4.) Plastic Baggies (Avoid!)
Although this is the most common way for non-growers to store
cannabis, it's one of the worst. Buds lose their smell and tend to get dried out and brittle in plastic baggies. The potency degrades quickly, and the lack of protection means that handling the buds tends to crumble them. Plastic baggies should only be used short-term or avoided altogether. If you need to store a small amount of bud, it's recommended to get a UV-proof glass stash box (will also prevent smells from leaking out!). As a bonus, a small glass container can help buds continue
curing.
Don't use a plastic baggy! Freezing your buds can be controversial because it's easy to lose trichomes when moving frozen buds. You do need to be extremely careful when handling frozen buds as the trichomes (glitter) become brittle and can
easily break off at freezing temperatures. However, if this does happen you can still collect trichomes from the bottom of the container and use them (just like the kief that falls to the bottom of a grinder!); the trichomes do not "vanish" into the ether!
Additionally, you can dramatically reduce this problem by always letting buds come to room temperature before handling them. The fact of the matter is that buds will stay potent for longer in the freezer than if kept at room temperature, so it's up to you to decide whether the risk is worth the reward. I can tell you that many growers freeze their buds for years to maintain potency, especially outdoor growers who may
harvest pounds at a time.
So if you want to use the refrigerator to store buds, don't risk mold by using the fridge portion - put your buds in the freezer!
Weird fact: Ever notice that the word 'refrigerator' doesn't have the letter 'd' in it, but the word 'fridge'
does?
Although 'fridge' and 'frig' are technically both acceptable spellings, a proposed explanation is that the word was originally spelled 'frig' but adding the 'd' and 'e' became much more popular since the word is pronounced as if it rhymes with 'ridge'.
Cannabis Storage Method
Recap: Using Glass for Storage - Air-tight and smell-proof.
- Doesn't stop the curing process, and buds may actually continue to cure and gain potency over time.
- Doesn't affect the
natural smell/taste of buds (unlike plastic, metal and some types of wood).
- Won't cause trichomes to break off due to static.
- Buds last for 1+ years in a cool, dark place without losing potency.
Using the Freezer for Storage - If using Freezer Bags (as opposed to glass jars), buds may lose some of their
smell/flavor over time due to the plastic and are easily damaged from handling in their frozen state. However, using glass jars in the freezer will help prevent these problems.
- Always allow buds to warm up to room temperature before handling to prevent trichomes from falling off into the jar.
- Buds that are frozen can maintain
their potency for years.
- Is vacuum sealing helpful?
- What NOT to do!
- Tools for perfect long-term storage
- ...and
more!
T5 vs CFLs: Fluorescent Grow Light Showdown |
While grow lights like HPS, LEDs and LECs battle for yield supremacy, fluorescent lighting has quietly kept its grip on small scale and stealthy growing. |
Fluorescent lighting is great for: - New growers
- Low budget growing
- Stealth growing
- First grows before investing in stronger lighting
If you're
interested in learning about fluorescent lighting, check out our article comparing the two most popular types: T5s and CFLs!
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Patrick |
Trophy Picture of the Week! |
"All plants were grown with super soil and some extra organic ferts... The tall budding plant is super skunk from nirvana growing in 65 gal smart pot. The wide leaf is pure Afghani, still weeks from finishing. Unknown strain growing right in roots 707 bag. And a sleepy bee hiding from the rain. All grown at almost 8,000ft elevation."
-SunGrown
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Who Runs This
Newsletter? |
Nebula Haze:
I'll be honest with you, when I first started growing, I struggled. Now, it is my mission to
make it easier for new growers to get started as well as help advanced growers get bigger, better yields with less time and money. We are updating and adding articles every single week and our goal is to eventually build a comprehensive growing resource so anyone and everyone can grow if they want to! If we all share the knowledge there's more buds in the world for everyone :) |
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Learn which seed sources are personally recommended by Nebula Haze |
Sirius Fourside:
Sirius Fourside is a hobbyist grower who has gained the bulk of his experience growing in water as a medium (deep water culture, bubbleponics).
"Growing cannabis can be a relaxing hobby in and of itself, but it also saves you money and keeps you from having to deal with shady characters. Cannabis is much easier to grow than people give it credit for, and growing in water
doesn't increase the difficulty much, if any. But whether you want to grow in water, coco, or a different medium, we'll show you how easy it can be!"
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