šæ Harvesting, Drying, and Storing Your Cannabis Crop
Whether youāre growing your first plant or refining your harvest game, getting your cannabis from stalk to storage jar is a critical process. The decisions you make during harvesting, trimming, drying, and storing will directly impact the quality, potency, flavor, and shelf life of your final product.
This guide walks you through every step of post-harvest processingāfrom knowing when itās time to cut, to sorting your buds, to storing them like a pro.
š°ļø When to Harvest: Reading the Trichomes
The best time to harvest your cannabis is when the trichomesātiny crystal-like structures on the buds and sugar leaves are at their peak.
Use a magnifying glass or close up pictures to check their color:
- Clear trichomes = Not ready
- Cloudy/milky = Maximum THC
- Amber = More sedative, body-heavy effects
For most growers, the sweet spot is when 70ā90% are cloudy with some turning amber. This gives you the highest potency and best terpene profile.
āļø Cutting: Whole Plant or Branch-by-Branch?
Youāve got two main options:
- Whole plant harvest ā Cut the entire main stem at the base and hang it upside down. Great for even drying and less handling.
- Branch-by-branch ā Cut large branches individually. Offers more control and is easier to manage in small spaces.
Make sure to use clean, sharp trimmers or pruning shears to avoid damage or contamination.
š Wet Trimming: Fan Leaves First
Immediately before or after cutting the stem(s), remove theĀ fan leavesāthose big, wide leaves that donāt have trichomes. This is best done while the plant is still moist (wet trimming), which makes the process easier and keeps your drying space clean.
Be careful to leave the sugar leavesāthe small, trichome-coated leaves close to the bud intact for now. They help protect the flower during drying and can be trimmed later.Ā They are also useful depending on your personal preferences.
š«ļø Drying: Darkness, Airflow, and Patience
Hang your trimmed branches or full plants upside down in a dark, ventilated space at 60ā70Ā°F (15ā21Ā°C) and 50ā60% humidity.
- Avoid direct airflow or light exposure.
- Use fans for gentle air circulation (not directly on buds).
- Keep drying rooms clean and mold-free.
Drying typically takes 7ā14 days, depending on bud density and environmental conditions.
Check progress by snapping the small stems: if they snap cleanly, your buds are dry. If they bend, they need more time.
āļø Dry Trimming & Bud Sorting
Once dry, itās time to manicure your buds and sort them by type:
- Top Colas ā The largest, most potent buds. Save for premium flower.
- Secondary Buds ā Mid-sized buds, great for grinding and filling cones.
- Popcorn Buds ā Smaller, fluffier nugs. Perfect for edibles or extracts.
- Sugar Leaves ā Keep them for making hash, rosin, or cannabutter.
Trim off remaining sugar leaves, being careful not to damage the trichomes.
šÆ Curing & Long-Term Storage
Place your trimmed buds into glass jars (like mason jars), filling each about 75% to allow airflow.
Curing Process:
- Weeks 1ā2: Open jars once per day for 5ā10 minutes (āburpingā) to let out moisture and refresh the air.
- Week 3+: Reduce burping to every 2ā3 days.
Add optional humidity control packsĀ to keep your buds stable.
Final Storage Tips:
- Use UV-protected airtight containers for long-term freshness.
- Label jars with strain name, harvest date, and use type (flower, extract, edibles, etc.).
- Store in a cool, dark, and dry place.
Properly cured buds can stay fresh and flavorful forĀ 12 months or more.
š§ Why Hung Upside Down
Hanging cannabis upside down isnāt just a traditionāitās a smart drying strategy. Here's why:
- Moisture Distribution: Gravity helps moisture wick downward through the plant, encouraging even drying from stem to bud.
- Natural Bud Protection: As the plant hangs, sugar leaves curl inward, helping protect the trichomes.
- Better Bud Shape: Hanging retains the full, round structure of buds, unlike rack drying, which can flatten them.
- Airflow Efficiency: Vertical hanging takes up less space and promotes better airflow around each branch, reducing mold risk.
- Preserving Potency: Controlled, slow drying in a dark room reduces cannabinoid and terpene degradation.
In short, hanging upside down gives your harvest the best shot at peak flavor, smooth smoke, and long-term shelf life.
š± Final Thoughts
Harvesting cannabis is more than a final stepāitās an art and science that seals in months of growing and patience. By following these best practices for cutting, trimming, drying, sorting, curing, and storing, you ensure your cannabis is not only potent, but enjoyable and long-lasting.
Great cannabis isn't just grownāit's harvested and handled with care. Take your time, follow the process, and you'll be rewarded with premium flower thatās potent, flavorful, and long-lasting.
