Now that cannabis for recreational use is legal in Canada, farming your own marijuana and preparing to sell them is one good business idea. After growing the plant, the next stages prove to be the most important part so it can become a consumable product: drying and curing.
Drying basically means reducing the majority of water content in the plant. However, this can be very difficult since a miscalculation in judgment can result in having dead leaves instead of dried leaves. Meanwhile, curing is a necessary process after drying in order to prepare it for the consumer.
Drying
To achieve the perfect drying procedure, you must be careful of the environmental conditions. The ideal temperature is 60 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the best range of humidity is 45 to 55 percent. Take note that drying in this context means ‘air-dry’ and not being exposed to sunlight.
It is only by a thorough inspection of the plant material that you can attain effective drying. The color of the plant component is a dry green and the stems can easily be broken, but the buds or leaves must not be brittle.
Curing
Curing the dried plant component means removing further moisture content while retaining all the necessary substances. Gently place the dried plant component in an airtight container. Check the container after 2 to 4 hours to see any difference.
If hard to distinguish, open the lid and feel the plant component. Intuitively, you can determine if it is dried further. The smell also can be an indicator. This process can take from a few days to a few weeks.