Types of Mold Found on Cannabis
Botrytis Cinerea, often known as Bud Rot, is the most prevalent mold seen on cannabis plants. This mold appears on a plant as it grows rather than after it has been harvested. On the colas, look for fuzzy, grayish-white hyphae; these are unlikely to be confused with trichomes, the glittery jewels that indicate a good strong strain.
The peace’s villain is a sort of mold called Aspergillus, which appears after harvest. When mold spores become airborne, they can cause serious health concerns, especially in persons with compromised immune systems or lung disease. When exposed to this, one can contract Aspergillosis, an infection that spreads through the lungs, kidneys, and brain and is usually fatal — this is why moldy weed should never be smoked. If you buy cannabis from a dispensary, all Aspergillus products should be tested by the facility’s experts. If you don’t buy your cannabis from a dispensary, you’ll need to know how to recognize mold on your bud in order to take action.
How to Tell if Cannabis is Moldy
Thankfully, there are various indicators that your cannabis has succumbed to mold, so it’s up to you to check on your pot on a frequent basis to ensure it’s clean and safe to use. Musty cannabis can be detected both visually and olfactorily, so keep an eye out for the following telltale indications of mold:
Tiny black specks on the buds – this is a sign that mold is starting to form.
Mold has your cannabis firmly in its grip, with yellow, gray, or brown fuzzy-looking growth.
Unpleasant odors — Some strains are notoriously pungent, but if you discover a scent that resembles perspiration or urine, remove your cannabis right away because these odors are suggestive of mold.
If you’re looking for mold with your eyes alone, make sure you’re doing so in a well-lit area. Because natural light can be deceiving, it could be as simple as illuminating your buds with your phone’s torch. Make sure you have a decent strong source of light and that you can see all of the areas and colors present on the buds with an acceptable degree of clarity, whatever you use. Some even suggest using a magnifying glass to ensure you’re thoroughly inspecting your cannabis.
What Causes Moldy Cannabis
If your cannabis arrived in good condition from the grow room and is free of mold, the growers did their job correctly, and the fault is on your end. Things might get hazardous once the cannabis has been relocated from the production chamber. High humidity levels, light, temperature, air circulation, and excess moisture are the most prevalent factors that encourage the growth of mold. As a result, it’s critical that you understand how to safely control and store your marijuana.
Moisture, warmth, and stagnant air are all favorites of mold. If you’re in control of your plants, the drying and curing process is critical for removing the precipitating factors that cause mold growth on cannabis, so take your time and don’t rush it. You’ve already given the mold a head start unless the cannabis is properly and fully dried before being placed in containers.
How to Store Weed to Prevent Cannabis Mold
After your cannabis has been properly dried and cured, the next crucial step in preventing mold is to store it. The storage method you choose has a big impact on whether or not you keep mold at bay and how long your cannabis lasts.
You have a lot of alternatives here, but not all of them are good. Plastic bags, for example, are bad for cannabis storage since they don’t protect your bud from air, heat, cold, or moisture, even if they’re sealable. Plastic bags are significantly more permeable than you might think, and they will quickly destroy cannabinoids, reducing the strength of your nugs. If that wasn’t enough, plastic bags are prone to static electricity, which can pull valuable trichomes away from the plant and onto the plastic, robbing you of some of the highly-prized sticky substances that make your cannabis fabulous.
For storing your weed, you can purchase specifically made stash boxes. They’re usually airtight, odor-proof, waterproof, and UV-resistant, which makes them ideal for storing your buds. Even better, some of them have extras like rolling trays and grinders, making them a worthwhile investment, despite their high cost.
Keeping your pot in a glass jar is arguably the best way to preserve it at home. It doesn’t matter if you buy jars specifically for this purpose or repurpose old jam jars, coffee jars, or any other sort of glass jar you may find, as long as the jar has an airtight lid and is clean. If you acquire a vacuum-seal top, you’ll gain bonus points.
Why Store Cannabis in Glass
For a variety of reasons, glass jars are the best option for cannabis storage. The long and short of it is that they are resistant to all of the conditions that lead to moldy weed:
- Glass is impervious to oxygen and is unaffected by residual humidity.
- Temperature fluctuations won’t impact the contents if they’re kept in the right place.
- There are no chemical secretions that could harm your terpenes.
- Smell-proof
- Buds can cure and even get more potent over time in glass mason jars, which are affordable and readily available.
If you decide to utilize an old jar that you’ve previously used for something else, make sure it’s clean and dry. In fact, toss that idea out the window and dry it meticulously. Guess what happens if there are traces of moisture left in your jar when it’s time to fill it with cannabis? You’ve created the ideal environment for mold to thrive. The harm is occurring inside your container, regardless of how careful you are with external conditions (heat/light, etc.).
Where to Keep Your Cannabis Jars
This is a no-brainer in my opinion. Keep your jars away from direct sunshine and heat in a dark, dry location. As long as it’s a decent dark and dry location, a cupboard, closet, cabinet, or drawer should suffice. Keep your jars out of the fridge or freezer since the moisture and cold will harm your buds. Keep in mind that a clear glass container provides little protection from the sun or heat. As a result, it’s even better if you can find opaque or coloured jars to use for this purpose. Maintain a temperature of less than 23°C in the environment (mold thrives above 25C). Maintain a humidity level of high 50 percent to low 60 percent.
Make Sure you use the Correct Size of Jar
Another thing to think about is the size of your jars. Because you need to limit air volume, you shouldn’t use a 16oz jar to store a little amount of cannabis. Make sure the jars are well packed and well-filled.
Label and Monitor
It’s a good idea to name each jar with the date you filled it and check in on your weed on a regular basis to see how it’s doing. After a few months, cannabis buds begin to decay, but this depends on the strain and how it’s stored.
Humidity Control
If necessary, you can enlist the help of outsiders to keep the humidity under control. Humidity packs are approximately the same price as a good cup of coffee. They can be mixed in with your cannabis in the jar. They’ll keep the humidity inside the jar at a low enough level to prevent mold from forming. However, it must be high enough to prevent your weed from drying out and losing its flavor and potency. Humidity packs are an excellent choice for both short and long-term storage. They can maintain a stable relative humidity in the environment (in this case, a jar).