Commercial cannabis operations invest time and resources into cultivation, but many growers lose profits due to preventable errors during the post-harvest phase. Poor drying and curing practices can destroy months of careful growing and can lead to mold, smoke, and unsatisfied customers. To deliver products that meet market demands, avoid these top five mistakes when drying and curing cannabis, and maximize your harvest’s profitability.
1. Rushing the Drying Process
Many growers rush drying to meet tight deadlines, but this destroys product quality. Cannabis requires 7–14 days of proper drying at 60–70 degrees Fahrenheit with 45–55 percent humidity. Fast drying creates harsh, uneven products that burn poorly and taste bitter, so maintain consistent environmental controls throughout your facility for uniform results across all batches.
2. Ignoring Humidity Control
Humidity fluctuations ruin entire harvests and cost operations thousands in lost revenue. High humidity (above 60 percent) promotes mold growth, while low humidity (below 45 percent) dries cannabis too quickly and degrades terpenes. For the perfect humidity range in your facility, install reliable dehumidifiers, humidifiers, and monitoring systems throughout your drying rooms, and check levels multiple times daily for quality assurance.
3. Poor Air Circulation
Stagnant air creates hot spots and uneven drying that leads to inconsistent product quality. As a general standard for drying, install oscillating fans throughout your drying space, but avoid pointing them directly at hanging plants.
Other drying methods, such as industrial freeze drying, require specialized equipment but can offer more controlled environments for large-scale operations. Regardless of which method you choose, offer gentle, consistent airflow in your drying stages to reach all areas of your drying room. This prevents pockets of humidity and promotes uniform moisture removal across every plant.
4. Inadequate Temperature Management
Temperature swings stress cannabis and reduce final product quality. Avoid this mistake when curing and drying your cannabis by maintaining steady temperatures between 60 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the drying process. HVAC systems with precise controls and backup systems prevent costly equipment failures.
5. Skipping the Curing Phase
Some commercial operations skip curing to reduce processing time, but this eliminates the smoothness and flavor development that customers expect. Properly cure dried cannabis in sealed containers at 58–62 percent relative humidity for 2–8 weeks, and monitor the process on a weekly basis. Well-cured cannabis commands higher prices and builds customer loyalty.
Proper drying and curing directly impact your product’s potency, flavor, aroma, and shelf life. Master these fundamentals to consistently deliver high-quality results that customers will enjoy and recommend to others. Your attention to detail during post-harvest processing will maximize your investment and establish your brand’s reputation in competitive markets.
