Storing your cannabis flower in plastic baggies isn’t enough to protect the flower from losing potency and aroma. Cannabis buds contain tiny resinous hairs called trichomes that contain terpenes (aromatic molecules) and cannabinoids like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD) that react differently to various storage conditions. Buying a cannabis humidor helps you regulate temperature and humidity to preserve your buds for longer and maintain taste.
Most dispensaries use best practices to cure, dry, trim, and store cannabis flower with the highest possible trichomes, terpenes, and cannabinoid content. Once you purchase your cannabis humidor, however, it’s up to you to maintain maximum potency and flavor in your buds. A cannabis humidor is an investment piece that can give you the most out of your cannabis flower, whether you use it recreationally or medicinally.
Size
Not all cannabis humidors are created equal. Each storage unit varies in size, depending on your needs in terms of capacity. From made-to-order walk-in cannabis storage systems used in dispensaries to personal and portable cannabis humidors, there’s a storage option for everyone. For first-timers, opt for a smaller humidor with less capacity to get used to the humidor settings and understand how to maintain freshness.
Materials
Cannabis humidors often feature unique design choices, but most have the basic box shape. Modern humidors are made from a variety of materials including wood, metal, or acrylic glass. For cannabis storage, woods like mahogany or cherry are porous making it easy to absorb and wick moisture without warping or bending over time. Additionally, these wood types don’t impart any scent or flavor on your cannabis products like cedar woods, which are primarily used in tobacco humidors.
Tight Seal
Your cannabis humidor must also have an airtight seal. Humidors are made of several layers of wood and should include a beveled edge or notched edge to ensure no smell will escape. An airtight seal ensures the humidity level inside of your humidor remains consistent. You’ll know your humidor is airtight if it makes a whooshing or puffing sound when it closes. The best way to ensure your humidor has a tight seal is to purchase from a trusted manufacturer.
Humidity Control
An essential part of a cannabis humidor is humidity control. For cannabis flower storage, you can go with ventilated lids or airtight lids for your glass jars. Airtight lids typically require humidity packs that maintain the ideal relative humidity in the jar. Ventilated lids depend on a bead system to release more or less moisture depending on how dry or moist the environment is. A digital hygrometer like the Blustream Hygrometer enables you to measure humidity inside of your humidor. The ideal humidity level for cannabis flower is 58% to 62% relative humidity to keep the trichomes intact with maximum potency.
Before you go out and purchase your very first cannabis humidor, determine if you even need a cannabis humidor in the first place. How much cannabis flower do you typically have on hand at any given time? Do you need storage for edibles, pre-rolls, wax and more? Ensure you have more than enough room for your flower and any other accoutrements you need to store.
Buying your first cannabis humidor can seem intimidating, but they are easy to use and worth the price if you appreciate the ability to separate your strains and keep them organized and fresh. A cannabis humidor can help you get the most out of your cannabis for recreational or medicinal uses. Humidity controls help ensure your cannabis doesn’t dry out and become brittle or get too moist and develop mold.
