Methodology is key to producing high-quality cannabis products. After you've planted, harvested and manicured your cannabis plants, the next step is to dry the buds. Without the proper equipment, environment and consideration, the drying process could go wrong. To ensure your final product lives up to you and your patients'/customers' expectations, you'll want to place extra care in the development and capabilities of your drying room.
Friction
Depending on how much handling is involved in your drying process, too much friction will impact the quality of your buds. By frequently re-positioning your buds, the valuable resin can be lost in the process. This is especially true after the cannabis buds have been dried. It's essential that your growers are trained to handle the flower properly to retain as much resin as possible.
Temperature
The temperature of the environment is a vital ingredient of a highly-effective drying process. If you're using a dry ice drying process, you'll want to keep temperatures just below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The perfect drying room may also have a refrigerator where you can jar and store buds at above 45 degrees Fahrenheit to help extend the preservation of the buds. Temperatures above 72 degrees should be avoided at all costs.
Lighting
Temperature is also affected by the room's lighting. Exposing your buds to UV light rays can damage them if not monitored closely. Direct light can increase the temperature of the bud at its core which can negatively affect the consistency of the flower's resin and the strength of the buds. Natural sunlight and artificial grow lights can be especially harmful if directly exposed for prolonged periods of times.
Humidity
The humidity in the room plays a pivotal role in drying out buds. While too much moisture can negatively impact the result, so can a room that is too dry. Buds that are too moist are not easy to smoke by the consumer. Since THC is activated by heat, it's important that the final product is not damp. Once humidity levels rise above 80%, the amount of time required to dry will be significantly extended. Lastly, if the humidity levels are too low, such as below 30%, you must also adjust the air circulation to accommodate the lack of moisture.
Air Circulation
Circulating the air in the drying room helps maintain a consistent environment for your product. When humidity is high, you'll need to ensure that there is plenty of circulation; otherwise, the buds will remain too moist and may take longer to dry thoroughly. Air flow controllers is just one piece of equipment your drying room should have.
Equipment
Your operation is only as efficient as the equipment used. Choosing the right industrial tools for the job can go a long way in your production process. Hang drying racks, and tray racks are two of the most common drying methods used today. If your drying room is pressed for space, you might consider using a tray rack setup. If the area is not an issue, you can outfit the drying room with hangers where you can clip full branches. The equipment you install in your drying room is a big part of the drying process.
Sanitation
Keeping your drying room sanitary at all times is a critical component in safely producing cannabis products. A drying and manicuring room is very much like a kitchen. As the buds are at the core of any cannabis operation and are to be consumed in various methods, they should be treated with great care and consideration. Sanitation will also prevent pests from invading your drying room; spider mites are among the most common intruders known to cause detrimental damage to your product