Properly curing and storing hemp are probably the most important steps after harvesting the plant. Hemp is susceptible to mold and likely to lose its cannabinoid content if the weather conditions aren’t ideal. Improper storage can ruin your entire harvest. With the right technique and a little patience, you can prolong the shelf life of hemp flowers until they’re ready to be used.

What to Consider When Curing Hemp

Curing hemp may take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to even 6 months. Curing hemp is an art, with many people falling victim to mold or the plant drying out. Some basic requirements for curing hemp include:

• Maintaining complete darkness
• Keeping a high level of humidity – around 30-50%
• Maintaining a temperature between 59-68 degrees Fahrenheit
• Providing consistent airflow to keep the plant fresh and preventing mold from growing – this is probably one of the most important factors to keep track of. As the flower hangs upside down, the CBD gathers into the tips of the buds, causing them to droop and close, making it difficult for air to get through.

How Long Can Cured Hemp Be Stored?

The cannabinoid (CBD) content of the hemp will deteriorate annually by about 1-2% (this depends on the harvest and the intensity of the CBD, to begin with). However, it can be kept for up to 2 years.

Hemp needs to be stored with a high level of humidity- around 50-60% or a bit more. Storing hemp in glass mason jars, vacuum-sealed Mylar bags, or other airtight cannabis containers is the best way to keep it stored for a long time.

Another important thing to look out for is that opening the container in which the hemp is stored can affect its shelf life. The more times you open the container, the more chances there are of the terpene transferring from the plant to the edges of the container. To maintain the CBD content, avoid exposing the hemp to the outside environment. Canna Comforts takes pride in the shelf life of their products, so should you.