Frequently Asked Questions
Does curing flower produce white ash?
There are numerous factors that contribute to White Ash outside of the curing process. Curing equalizes and stabilizes moisture in flower which will help with white ash. Excess moisture or unstable moisture in flower contributes to dark ash.
What is the difference in value between well-cured flower and overdried flower?
Overdried flower can weigh 5% less than well-cured flower – $50 lost for every $1000 sold. The difference in quality can have a large variance and that value will be different in most markets. It is safe to say there would be a 10% reduction in value in established competitive markets – $100. The overall value lost or gained could be much larger or smaller depending on various other factors.
What are the biggest mistakes in curing flower?
Over drying flower or trying to cure flower that is too wet. Ensuring the flower leaves a slow and cold dry room at the right time is important. The flower needs enough moisture to continue the process of biosynthesis and respiration, and not too much moisture that can promote harmful fungal or bacterial growth. Elevated temperatures and constant bright light also negatively affect the curing process.
How important is the drying process in curing flower?
Absolutely critical. The flower must enter the curing process without being over dried or under dried.
What is worse, over drying or under drying before curing?
Flower that is under dried can always have more moisture removed. Flower that has been cooked in the dry process will not benefit from curing. Break out the orange peels, tortilla shells or Boveda packs.
What is Relative Humidity?
Relative humidity (RH) is a measure of the amount of water vapor in the air compared to the maximum amount of water vapor the air can hold at a given temperature. Relative humidity can be especially useful when monitoring flower in a sealed chamber, particularly over an extended period. The equilibrium of relative humidity in a sealed chamber over time is used to calculate water activity. Equalized Relative Humidity / 100 = Water Activity
What is Water Activity?
Water activity (aw) is a measure of the amount of “free” or “available” water in a flower. It is a measure of the water vapor pressure in the flower, compared to the vapor pressure of pure water at the same temperature and pressure. In simple terms, water activity is a measure of how much water is available for chemical and biological reactions to occur within a substance. Water activity is an important parameter in the food industry and is becoming the preferred method in flower. It provides a more accurate indication of the amount of free water available in the flower, while other methods such as moisture content measure the total moisture content which includes both free water and bound water. Free water or available water is water that is not bound to other molecules or surfaces. Free water is what feeds microbial growth and can affect the quality and safety of flower. Water activity can also be a good indicator of degradation and shelf life. Water activity is a unitless number that ranges from 0 to 1, with 1 indicating a completely saturated sample and 0 indicating a completely dry sample. An ideal range for most flower is .60 – .62.
What is Moisture Content?
Moisture content refers to the amount of water or moisture present in a flower, typically expressed as a percentage of the flower’s overall weight. It is a measure of the “wetness” of a substance, or how much water is contained within it. This was a popular way of measuring the moisture of flower, however, it has a few disadvantages that make it less ideal in flower curing.
What causes bacterial and fungal growth?
Bacterial and fungal growth can take place on improperly dried and cured flower. Molds, which are fungi, are more common on flower than harmful bacterial growth. Molds are decomposers, breaking down dead organic matter, and can grow when conditions are favorable (e.g., damp and warm environments). Some common types of molds include Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Cladosporium and Botrytis. Proper airflow can also help to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, which can compromise the quality and safety of the flower.
Can the Cure Puck detect if my flower is too moist for curing?
Yes, the Cure Puck will try to remove the moisture as fast as possible. It will also alert you that the flower is too wet and should be put back out to dry further.
What amount of moisture is too wet?
This depends. Water Activity over .63aw is at risk of microbial growth. However, it is possible to cure flower up to .67aw in a container that has a small volume of flower and large volume of headspace, especially if the flower is left on the stalk. High water activity becomes a challenge when flower deep in the container cannot respire efficiently. This flower will require mixing or fluffing to allow adequate airflow – access to oxygen and off-gassing. If the Relative Humidity does not drop quickly during a burp below the lower limit – typically 60% – the flower should be removed from the curing chamber and dried further.
Can flower feel crispy and still have high moisture content?
Yes. Flower can be very crispy on the outside and wet on the inside. Flower can be cured this way; however, it cannot be done in a deep layer as the moisture can get trapped without easy access to the headspace for oxygen and off-gassing.
What is the best size container for curing flower?
This depends on the volume that requires curing. Smaller containers will give more control and larger containers will give more moisture consistency across batches. The Cure Puck is designed to work on .13gal – 55gal (.5L – 210L) containers. 5gal (19L) containers work well for small batches. 35gal (132L) containers work well for large batches.
What is the best container style to cure flower in?
There are various container styles and materials, each with its own pros and cons. Glass is a great material for long term storage; however, it has drawbacks such as light exposure and risk of breaking during the curing process. Food safe plastic buckets or totes work well and are very cost-effective and often stack well. A drawback to plastic in some dry regions is the static charge they build, causing material to stick to the walls – inside and out. Wax-lined craft barrels work well due to their tight seal. Barrels should be placed on their side to decrease the depth of flower and provide flower with more exposure to the headspace. The downside is the exterior of craft barrels cannot be washed, nor can they be stacked. If cost is not an issue, stainless steel containers provide the best option. A general rule is, wide and shallow is better than deep and narrow.
Will the Cure Puck work on a black and yellow tote?
The Cure Puck will work on almost any container, including black and yellow totes. You will not get complete control when using a black and yellow tote as it will not be sealed.
Does flower require fluffing during curing?
Mixing, rotating, or fluffing flower during curing is typically not required unless the flower has excess moisture. Once a day for the first few days is typically sufficient, particularly when using large containers.
How do I fluff, mix or stir my flower without opening the container?
The simplest way is to cure in a barrel laid on its side. Rotate the barrel once per day. A rolling barrel cradle is available.
How important is the room environment when curing?
Very Important. Excess temperature or humidity will negatively affect curing. The Cure Puck will alert you if the room environment is not optimal for curing.
What is the ideal room Temperature and Relative Humidity to Cure Flower?
The room environment is especially important as that air is introduced to the chamber during a burp. Temperature range is 60F – 65F (15.5C – 18C). Relative Humidity range is 55% – 60%.
Can the room environment be too cold?
Yes. Too cold will stop biosynthesis, respiration, and enzymatic activity.
Can the room environment be too dry?
Yes. Too dry can increase the speed of curing and over dry the flower.
Does the Cure Puck require a power cord?
Under normal operation, the Cure Puck is powered by a 15V DC power supply. The Cure Puck also comes equipped with a backup battery.
Why does the Cure Puck have a backup battery?
The backup battery ensures your flower will be monitored in the event of a power failure and burped if required – particularly on weekends when the curing process does not stop. The battery is also useful when moving or transporting the curing container.
How long does the battery last on the Cure Puck?
Under normal operation, the Cure Puck is powered by a 15V DC power supply. The Cure Puck has an internal backup battery that will allow the Cure Puck to monitor your cure for up to 24 hours. The battery will also provide 1 – 2 burping cycles to ensure your flower gets burped in the event of a power failure (depending on container size). The monitoring time can be extended using the sleep mode feature.
How do I install Cure Puck?
Simply drill a 2.5” hole in the lid or sidewall of the container of your choice. The Cure Puck will be installed in that hole and secured in place with a large nut.