If the cost weren’t so darn high, you wouldn’t bother about desiccated cannabis. Dry, brown, and flaky, dehydrated cannabis appears almost worthless.
Being dry is preferable to being moldy, but excessive dryness diminishes aroma, flavor, and the overall impact on the body and mind. Buds can become overly dry due to extended curing, inadequate storage, or letting them age indefinitely.
However, there might be a chance to rehydrate overly dry cannabis if it hasn’t deteriorated too much. 6 Simple Methods to Rehydrate Overly Dry Cannabis
If the cannabis has transformed into a crumbly dry powder, it’s beyond salvage. Even blending it with high-quality material would only taint the good with the bad. Nevertheless, these tricks might prove useful:
- Citrus Strips: Introducing a strip of orange, lemon, or lime rind to the storage container allows the moisture from the rind to seep into the cannabis. Some also use pieces of bread, lettuce, kale, mint, or banana peel for a similar effect. However, this may alter or distract from the natural aroma or taste, and it’s crucial to remove the added organic matter the next day to prevent mold.
- Wet Seal: Place a dampened cheesecloth or paper towel across the storage jar before sealing it tightly.
- Humidifier: Wrap a damp cotton ball in aluminum foil, puncture holes to release moisture into the cannabis jar. Alternatively, use a commercially available humidifier pack designed for cigar storage. Some users opt for a moist paper towel or cotton placed in a tea infuser.
- Fresh Bud Bomb: Introducing a fresh bud to the stash can achieve a similar effect, with the new bud sharing its moisture with the existing product. This may influence the taste and aroma of the dry herb, so adding a bud from the same strain makes sense.
- Distilled Water: Dampen a paper towel with distilled water and insert it into a mylar bag. After poking holes in the mylar, place it in your storage container beside your excessively dry cannabis.
- Spray the Stuff: The idea is to rewet the cannabis to start over. Lightly spray the product with distilled water using a very fine sprayer to avoid soaking the buds. Reseal them after spraying.
An Alternative Approach:
Learning to cure and dry cannabis properly can prevent the issue of overdried cannabis altogether. To avoid over-drying, it’s essential to cure, dry, and store the product correctly.
- Harvesting: Gently cut off individual buds, leaving the stem intact. Remove the leaves, leaving the stem on even though it lengthens drying time.
- Drying Environment: Invest in tools and containers that will endure. Dry cannabis slowly in a controlled environment with a room temperature of 68°F – 70°F and 50% humidity. Rapid drying can damage color, smell, taste, and risk over-drying the product. Avoid drying buds in appliances like ovens, toaster ovens, food dehydrators, or microwaves, as the heat agitates the product.
- Drying Duration: Allow your supply to dry for 3 to 7 days, monitoring it throughout the process. If the buds are attached to their stems, drying will take longer, but the buds will draw moisture from the stems.
- Assessing Dryness: If the cannabis feels damp or wet, it requires more processing. Separate moist buds on an absorbent medium, such as a paper towel or cardboard, and avoid jarring them until they’ve dried further. Burp the jar several times a day, shaking the buds around to prevent mold.
- Drying Setup: Hanging cannabis remains the best option, but it requires the right room, temperature, and air circulation. Be prepared for odor issues.
Once the buds are dry, fill mason jars three-quarters full. Seal the jar tightly and shake it gently. If buds stick to the sides, they are too moist, and you should remove them for further drying.
Repeat this process for several days until all the moist products are weeded out, leaving the product ready for use. Perfecting this process takes some practice, but it’s a crucial aspect of preserving the best qualities of your strain.