Whether you are looking for long-term marijuana storage after a successful harvest or want to keep your buds fresh and flavorful in between your dispensary visits, proper marijuana storage is the key to keep your buds in their best state.
After harvesting, the most challenging part is marijuana storage that can either make or break your buds. The decisions you make at that time can either lead to super flavorful, potent, and fresh buds or an unsatisfying harvest where you can end up losing some of your product’s best qualities and features.
Since Marijuana is defined by its moisture content, it requires a suitable place and climate for long-term storage to maintain quality and freshness. Inappropriately stored marijuana can dry out quickly, lose its flavor and potency, and can also give way to mold making it hazardous to consume. That’s why the after-harvest period is so important, and if done correctly, you can end up preserving the potency, texture, and flavor of your herb and be able to keep it fresh for an extended period of time.
Here are a few tips to consider when deciding on long-term marijuana storage in a safe and proper manner. By following these storage tips, you can keep your marijuana fresh and fragrant for years without losing its potency.
Getting your Marijuana plant material ready for Storage
Getting your buds ready for storage requires removing all or as much of the leaves as possible. From the moment you harvest your plants, they begin to degrade, as aerobic bacteria and enzymes begin breaking excess sugars and starches. That brings us to the next and most crucial part, which is proper curing and, of course – adequate Marijuana storage.
To store your marijuana for extended use, you need to keep a few factors in view, such as;
- Temperature
- Light
- Humidity
- Airflow
However, according to a foundational study, light is the most critical factor in the degradation of marijuana. Direct sunlight is responsible for marijuana degradation, but indirect light can also impact its potency. Therefore, a lightproof place is highly suitable for marijuana storage or preservation of your buds.
Once the drying process is finished, you can place your nicely trimmed buds into a jar or marijuana storage box and store them in a cool and dark place. The back of a closet or cabinet can work well as a storage place to keep a marijuana box or jar. Besides heat and light, susceptibility to oxygen in the air can also lead marijuana to lose its flavor and potency through THC’s degradation. To avoid any moisture build-up, it’s important to open up the containers a few times a day during the first week, let the flowers “breathe,” and allow the moisture to escape.
After your first week of curing, you should open your marijuana storage bag or airtight container once every few days. Through 2-3 weeks of curing will be enough to get a good quality smoking experience; if you leave your harvest to cure up to 8 weeks, you’ll get an even better quality product.
Proper Method of Long-term Marijuana Storage
No matter if we’re discussing short-term or long-term Marijuana storage, how you store your Marijuana flowers plays a considerable role in your overall experience, as well as the taste, flavor, texture, and potency of your stash. That’s why storage plays a crucial role in the whole process and should be executed correctly.
Here are some steps to follow in order to keep our Marijuana flower in top-notch condition:
Ideal Temperature
As discussed earlier in the article’s curing section, keeping your flowers at an ideal temperature is crucial to prevent mold or mildew from growing and ruining your whole harvest.
Either low temperature or too much temperature can damage the buds and result in less potent marijuana, so we need to be moderate with the marijuana storage temperature. Keeping your cannabis in a cool and dark place with temperatures ranging from 65-70°F will keep your herb fresh and in pristine condition. Avoid storing marijuana in the fridge or refrigerator and fluctuation in temperature or humidity as it can make your buds prone to mold mildew.
Ideal Humidity
When it comes to proper cannabis storage, humidity control is as important as temperature control. While considering where to store marijuana, the moisture content is essential to keep in mind. Lack of moisture can dry out the buds for its essential oil, while too much humidity can make it prone to mold.
Keeping your produce stored in a controlled environment with 55% to 63% relative humidity (RH) can keep mold and mildew from forming and still maintain enough moisture so that the essential oils don’t dry out.
Air Exposure
To keep your cannabis fresh and in the best possible condition, you’ll need to keep it in a container that allows just the right amount of air in and out. Keeping your buds in an airtight container, especially when they are not completely dry, can lead to mold forming and ruining your whole batch, while too much air can degrade the herb and make it lose its potency and flavor. That’s why keeping your buds in simple glass jars or marijuana storage bags can often be the safest and best way to store your herb.
In order to make sure that you can get the best results that you can out of your harvest, we’ve composed a simple list of tips and tricks you can use to take your storage game to the next level and improve your smoking experience.
Improving your Marijuana Storage
If you want to increase your chances of getting superb products, here are a few things you can do as well:
- Use humidity control packs in each of your containers to control your RH levels.
- Always separate your strains in different containers.
- Be on the lookout for new and innovative ways for storing cannabis, but don’t underestimate the benefits of the simple glass jar.
- It is better to go for dark-colored marijuana storage bags or glass containers to reduce exposure to light.
- Never store your buds in the refrigerator or the freezer.
- Avoid storing in plastic bags and containers, especially for longer periods of time.
- Don’t store your accessories, such as grinders, rolling papers, pipes, and other things in with your buds.
For how long can we store marijuana?
While there’s no steadfast expiration date for Marijuana, the way you store your harvest can greatly affect its potency, flavor, texture, and, most importantly – its freshness. By following our simple steps, you’ll be able to extend your buds’ longevity while maintaining it in top form so you can enjoy your stash for a longer period. As long as the tips mentioned above are followed, marijuana can be stored for up to two years. The essential oils and terpenes present in the plant dry out over time, and THC begins to degrade in CBN. However, if you plan to store marijuana for a more extended period, it will be best to control and monitor the environment through proper measurement.
