How to water cure weed?
Water curing is the process of submerging your harvested weed into water within five to seven days to remove its dirt and impurities. There is no professional skill needed to water cure your harvested buds. All you need is freshwater, a container, and harvested Cannabis buds. To do this curing process, you need to trim the buds and remove the stem and fan leaves. Then, submerge your buds in the water. During the procedure, regulate the water temperature between 65 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18°-24° Celsius) only. Also, you have to change the water at least once a day to make sure that buds are soaked in freshwater during the entire process. When water becomes clearer, it means that a few dirt and impurities are left in your weed. Then, hang your buds to dry if you are sure that dirt and impurities have been removed.
How to water cure weed?
What is a water-cured weed?
Harvesting is one of the best parts of being a cannabis grower after a series of weeks of taking care of your crops. However, it is not safe to try and use it immediately. If you are excited to try your harvested Cannabis, water curing is one of the best alternatives, especially if you do not want to wait that long.
Water-cured weed undergoes osmosis that washes out chemicals, chlorophyll, pesticides, pests, or anything else you do not want to smoke when you consume your weed. It removes unwanted substances and purifies your Cannabis. The water curing process involves submerging your buds in water and is a faster method than traditional curing.
How does water curing work?
Like any other traditional curing, water curing works the same in many ways. Though you have to sink the buds in water for around a week only, unlike air curing, you need to wait longer to break down the residual substances.
Water-soluble substances in your weed like insecticides, salts, sugars, chlorophyll, and other unwanted substances diffuse in the water once buds are submerged in it. Water curing is a fast method than waiting for your buds to digest sugars and salts.
Cannabinoids in weed are fat-soluble, making water alone not enough to remove them from your Cannabis plant. Thus, you can safely use water to remove harmful chemicals from your buds without negatively affecting your harvest.
On the other hand, water curing may not be best for someone pleased by their aroma and flavors. It is because terpenes that produce their smell and taste are water-soluble that could get easily washed out.
If you want to learn more about terpenes, you should read my post: "What are terpenes?"
In addition, water-cured Cannabis is not aesthetically pleasing compared to air-cured Cannabis. Thus, becoming an issue if you are selling your harvest.
How to water cure your Cannabis?
The water curing process needs newly harvested cannabis buds, freshwater, a container like a bowl, tub, or jar. Distilled water works best in water curing weed. In choosing your container, the size must depend on the quantities of buds you want to water cure. Usually, the whole process will not last more than 7 or 8 days. Here are some steps in water curing your harvested cannabis buds:
- Start the process of water curing in trimming your buds and removing stems and fan leaves.
- After trimming, the next step is to fill your container with water and submerge your buds. You may use a weight to keep your bud sink in the water.
- During the process of water curing, you have to keep in mind the water temperature. The ideal water temperature is between 65 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit (18°-24° Celsius).
- You have to make sure that water is clean and fresh during the process. To make sure, you have to change the water at least once a day. As osmosis takes place, the water is filled with sugars and salts; that is why you have to change it regularly.
- After 5 to 7 days, when water becomes clearer, it means that a few dirt and impurities are left in your weed.
- Once you are sure that all undesired substances are removed, you can now hang your bud to dry it off.
What are the advantages of water curing?
A lot of cannabis growers choose water curing to make their operation as quick as possible. Aside from that, there are some notable advantages when you water-cure your weed.
- Water curing is a simple process that only requires preparing water, a jar, and your weed.
- There is no professional skill needed when you water-cure your weed.
- The water curing process is faster than the other curing methods, and it can remove higher quantities of unwanted substances.
- If you prefer secret smoking sessions, water-cured weed is more appropriate since its scent has been mostly washed out during the process.
What are the disadvantages of water curing?
Despite its known advantages, water curing has its downsides also. The following are the disadvantages of water curing:
- Water curing is not advisable if a consumer is very particular with aroma and flavor. Terpenes are water-soluble. Thus, when buds are submerged, this compound will get washed out by the water.
- When the weed is dried after water curing, the aesthetic appeal of the weed is reduced. As a result, it becomes complicated to sell weed commercially since it lacks visual appeal to the customers.
- Dishonest weed sellers use water curing to sell poisonous weed.
What are the Dos and Don'ts during water curing?
Dos in Watering Curing
- Make sure to regulate the water temperature. Ensure that you keep the water temperature in the range of 65 degrees to 75 degrees Fahrenheit(18°-24° Celsius).
- When water curing, it is advisable to use an airtight seal jar. This type of container has a silicone to ensure that your Cannabis is not exposed to air.
Don’ts in Water Curing
- Do not use a plastic containers as storage because they can easily contaminate. Any plastic attacks trichomes-hair-like outgrows on your Cannabis leaves. These trichomes-hair-like outgrows serve as their defense and ensure a quality harvest.
- Do not use rubber-sealed containers in water curing. Instead of using it, you can use mason jars. Rubber-sealed jars can cause your Cannabis to develop molds that will eventually ruin your product.
- Do not settle with a tobacco humidor to contain your Cannabis during water curing. Tobacco humidor is made from cedarwood that contains oils and a sponge that can penetrate your Cannabis. If this happens, it can change the flavor and taste and makes your Cannabis moist.
- Do not place your Cannabis inside a freezer. Trichomes are fragile, and situating them at a freezing temperature will make them brittle. If this happens, your Cannabis buds will easily break off and will lose their potency.
- Do not place your weed near heating appliances. Too much heat can dry out cannabinoids terpenes. Thus, it is advised to store your water-curing container away from any source of heat. You may place it in a basement, shelf, or in a low cupboard away from heat.
How does water curing differs from bud washing?
Water curing and bud wishing are different from each other. The goal of bud washing is to clean the buds after the harvest. It only takes place over a matter of minutes, unlike water curing, which submerged buds for 5 to 7 days. In bud washing, growers dipped their harvest into a series of buckets of water to clean the buds and improve their taste. After giving the buds a quick dip in the water, they move them to the drying rack.