If you grow marijuana for your own use, after curing it properly, you will need to learn how to keep cannabis in storage properly to keep your weed fresh and potent. Many people throw cured cannabis directly into a drawer—this is common but really not a great way to keep it fresh. With proper storage, your marijuana can last about two years without going bad. So what plays into freshness?
Factors that Affect Freshness to Keep Cannabis in Storage
Temperature
Temperature is arguably the most important factor in how long cannabis can be stored and retain its potency. Elevated temperatures can cause terpenes and cannabinoids to evaporate, resulting in an unpleasant flavor and weak high. High heat also breeds mold and mildew, which can wreak havoc on your cannabis.
On the other hand, low temperatures can slow decarboxylation, but that doesn’t mean you need to put marijuana in the refrigerator: too low of temperatures will freeze trichomes and the refrigerator is humid, which is not suitable for storing cannabis.
The best temperature for storing marijuana is around 65 degrees Fahrenheit. This temperature is relatively cool and can maximize the flavors of cannabis. If you’re looking to store your weed in a place at home, find a dark, dry place like a closet and put your cannabis in a sealed container.
Humidity
We mentioned that refrigerators are not suitable for storing marijuana because, in addition to being too cold, it is also too humid. Mold grows rapidly if heat and humidity work together. Keep your humidity level around 60% for the best results. Humidity below 50% will dry out cannabis and make it brittle, making it less palatable. If RH is above 65% you increase the risk of mold. We recommend investing in a hygrometer so you can monitor your humidity at all times.
Light
While marijuana needs light while it grows, light can make your cannabis age faster when you store it. The UV rays in the light degrade weeds, breaking down their terpenes and cannabinoids. Choose a dark container to help block some UV rays. Ever wonder why beer bottles are all green or brown? Same thing. Brown is the best color for a container and filters out visible UV rays.
Oxygen
Exposure to oxygen is also not good for marijuana storage! Many things that are necessary for growing are actually the enemy of storage. When oxygen levels are too high cannabis degrades faster. Putting marijuana in a vacuum-sealed container prevents this from happening, but in many cases, perfect vacuum conditions are difficult to achieve so instead you just need to put your weed in an airtight jar.
However, balance how much cannabis you put into a jar—if you put only a little weed into a large jar there is so much oxygen that it defeats the purpose.
Optional Containers – How to Keep Cannabis in Storage
Before we get into containers let’s note one thing: the best storage container will be made of glass because glass does not have any ill effects on your marijuana. Do not use cheap plastic materials—these can generate static electricity that reduces the potency of cannabis. It’s also best not to use an overly large jar—of course, you can fill it up but you always have to keep it full.
Mason Jars
The great thing about using mason jars is that you can buy them anywhere. In addition to keeping your weed dry, mason jars also suppress odors. The only thing to note is that mason jars are usually larger—you should stuff at least 2/3 of the jar full of cannabis, otherwise too much air in the can will affect the storage of cannabis. As well, mason jars are usually clear so make sure you store them somewhere cool and dry.
The Cannador
This is a container designed especially to store cannabis. It contains glass jars so you can store different strains within the system—it is convenient to use but may be slightly more expensive.
Wrap-Up – How to Keep Cannabis in Storage
All in all, storing cannabis requires you to consider temperature and humidity, light, oxygen, and the material of the container itself. If you set up everything perfectly you can expect your cannabis to last for about 2 years. If you were to, say, leave your cannabis on your table in a plastic bag you can expect it to last for about three weeks. This is not what you want to see. Store your cannabis well and enjoy it!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us!
And be sure to check out our other blog posts for useful tips on becoming a great grower!
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